Liverpool are reportedly hopeful of completing the signing of Swansea midfielder Joe Allen this week in a deal which could be worth up to £15million.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers recently confirmed he is interested in raiding his former club for the 22-year-old, and reports over the past few days have suggested a deal is edging closer.
Weekend reports suggested Tottenham were also showing interest in the Wales international, who is currently on Olympic duty with Team GB, but according to the Daily Mirror, Rodgers has made a £12.5million bid as he looks to be reunited with his former playmaker.
According to Tuesday's report, the deal will include add-ons which could take the fee up to £15m - a figure which meets the buy-out clause in his contract.
Rodgers had agreed when leaving Swansea to take charge at Anfield that he would not make an approach for any of his former players over the next twelve months unless a rival club also made a bid for their services, but meeting the £15m figure would pave the way for Allen to move to Merseyside.
Swansea midfielder Leon Britton at the weekend admitted the club will struggle to replace Allen should he join Liverpool this summer.
However, he admits his team-mate deserves the chance to join a bigger club.
"We would be disappointed if Joe goes. That goes for the players, the staff and the fans," Britton told Wales Online.
"That’s because if he goes, we know we will be losing a really good player.
"Players like Joe are hard to replace - the money they are talking about him going for tells you how good he is.
"But you can’t begrudge him the move if it happens. We would have to wish him good luck. We hope he will stick with us, but it would be a great opportunity for him if he ends up going.
"He deserves the opportunity to go to one of the big clubs not just in England but in European football."
And he added: "You don’t want to put pressure on him but he is such a good player.
"The manager at Liverpool obviously knows him well and it’s no surprise that they are interested. It wouldn’t surprise me if there are others out there who would like to take him as well.
"Joe has got great maturity for his age. Anyone who knows him will tell you that he is mature on and off the pitch.
"He has got everything you need but he is always willing to learn more and trying to get better. He is ready for it now. I am sure he can go on and have a top career in the Premier League for many years.
"Hopefully that’s with Swansea, but if it’s not then hopefully he goes to one of the big clubs, because that’s where he deserves to be."