Joe Allen has given Stoke City a huge boost following their relegation by signing a new long-term deal at the club.

The Welshman has been linked with moves away from the Bet365 Stadium this summer and West Ham are one of the teams interested in Allen.

Stoke confirmed the news via their Twitter account this morning.

Twitter: JOE ALLEN has today pledged his future to Stoke City by signing a long-term contract. The 28-year-old Welsh intern… https://t.co/JOdwzLwPWG (@stokecity)

West Ham has for a long time been in search for a holding midfielder. Last summer, they were chasing Portugal international William Carvalho but they couldn’t agree on a deal and that meant the Hammers reluctantly admitted defeat in their pursuit for him.

But it shouldn’t mean the end of their pursuit it just means they will have to pay over the odds to get Allen if his to be back in the Premier League and playing for West Ham, but it just depends whether or not the Hammers are prepared to pay more than his worth.