Euro 2020 star will be offered to Sheffield United and other leading Championship clubs

Allen, who is currently on duty with his country at the European Championships, is among a number of players City are prepared to part company with as part of a cost cutting exercise at the bet365 Stadium.

Although United have not directly expressed an interest in the 31-year-old, sources within the game report they are among several Championship clubs identified by officials in Staffordshire as possessing both the stature and financial wherewithal required to broker a deal.

As a result, it is expected they will be invited to indicate whether or not they would be interested in acquiring Allen’s services when he returns from the tournament later this summer.

With Sander Berge expected to depart South Yorkshire and John Lundstram refusing to extend his contract, new United manager Slavisa Jokanovic has made midfield a top priority in the transfer market as he looks to construct a squad capable of making an immediate return to the top-flight following last term’s relegation.

However, Allon’s record in front of goal could count against him when the Serb considers the potential options facing United, having netted only 20 times in 177 appearances since leaving Liverpool five years ago. Having turned 31 in March, Allen’s age could also count against him, although Jokanovic would be interested in acquiring Tom Cairney, 14 months his junior, if the opportunity arose.

Cairney, who won promotion with Jokanovic at Fulham, is valued at around £10m by officials at Craven Cottage.

Allen, whose deal with City has 12 months left to run, cost an estimated £13m when he left Anfield having previously helped Swansea City climb from the third to the first tier of English football.

After recovering from injury, he was named in Robert Page’s final 26 man squad for Euro 2020 and completed its opening group game against Switzerland in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday afternoon.

Allen helped Wales reach the last four of the tournament in 2016, where they eventually succumbed 2-0 to eventual winners Portugal.