Joe Allen is not for sale' - Stoke City boss Mark

Stoke City boss has given any chance of a Joe Allen return to Swansea City short shrift by declaring "He's not for sale!"

Speaking ahead of Stoke's Premier League opener against Everton, the 72-cap former Wales striker insisted that Allen, who only joined the Potter last summer, would not be going anywhere.

Stoke and Swansea had battled for the Euro 2016 hero's signature last year, with Allen opting for a move to Staffordshire as the Swans struggled to meet Liverpool's valuation.
But, with Swansea set to receive a large chunk of cash from Everton for Icelandic playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson, Allen, who made his name with the Swans, has emerged once again as a target.

When pressed about a possible move, Hughes said: “There was an tentative inquiry and that was it.

"But we rebuffed it and we haven’t given them any encouragement whatsoever.
The Potters have been linked to Manchester City and England midfielder Fabian Delph, but Hughes was adamant that these rumours have no bearing on Allen leaving Stoke.

"That doesn't affect our position with Joe," Hughes stressed.

"They made an inquiry. It wasn't a bid or a request to buy him or anything like that. They just asked would we be willing to allow him to leave and we said no.

"I think we have to respect that they came and they did that - and because of the answer they got you'd like to think they will respect our position."