Joe Allen: Liverpool close to signing Swansea midfielder

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed he hopes to complete the signing of Swansea's Joe Allen within the next 24 hours.

The 22-year-old midfielder was in the directors box at Anfield on Thursday as Liverpool beat FC Gomel 3-0 to reach the Europa League play-off round.

"It's obviously imminent," Rodgers said. "Hopefully over the next 24 hours we can conclude it."

Allen is expected to complete a medical at Liverpool on Friday.

He would be Rodgers's second signing, after striker Fabio Borini.

The two clubs opened negotiations over a deal for Allen last month, but the Anfield club's opening bid was rejected.

Rodgers offered about £12m plus fellow midfielder Jonjo Shelvey on loan, but that deal was turned down by Swansea chairman Hugh Jenkins.

Although the new Liverpool manager has a written agreement with Swansea not to return to his former club to try to sign any of their players for the next 12 months, the Welsh club can waive that clause if a deal is deemed to be in the best interests of the club.

Rodgers admitted Allen was a target in July, saying: "He is a very talented player, which everyone knows."

Allen returned to training at Swansea for the first time on Wednesday following his involvement in the Olympic football tournament with the Great Britain side.