Allen explains Potters move

Cape Town - Wales midfielder Joe Allen says his new manager and compatriot Mark Hughes was the decisive factor in his move from Liverpool for a reported £13million fee.

Allen failed to hold down a regular starting berth at Liverpool and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was open about the 26-year-old's chances of getting more playing time next season.

However, he proved his ability with some stellar performances as a box-to-box midfielder in the Dragons run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, earning himself admirers across Europe.

"He [Hughes] sold the club to me in terms of their ambitions moving forward," he said after signing a five-year deal with the Potters. "I wanted first-team football and for that reason it wasn't too difficult.

"I knew there was an opportunity like this here for me and it was easy to make the move. My ambition is to be a regular here and help Stoke City.

"They have been very stable in recent years and hopefully we can move upwards."