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PLAYER WATCH: WILL REGGAE BOYZ' AUSTIN BE DRIVING FORCE FOR STOKE?
Be the first reader to comment on this story
09:40 - 13 June 2008
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Stoke's promotion to the Premier League has ensured they are being linked with a plethora of players in the national media. So who has the rumour mill got plying their trade at the Brit next season? Read on to find out ...
STOKE fans hoping to see some Rolls-Royce players at the Britannia Stadium next season might have to make do with an Austin.
According to today's The Sun, one of Tony Pulis's first signings of the summer could be Jamaican international RUDOLPH AUSTIN.
Austin, who trained extensively at Stoke last season, was prevented from signing along with compatriot Demar Phillips last year because he didn't qualify for the required work permit.
But he is now pencilled in for Jamaica's two World Cup qualifiers against the Bahamas this summer and those two caps should help satisfy the red-tape regulations previously barring his entry into English football.
Both Austin and Phillips were initially recommended to Stoke by fellow Jamaican Ricardo Fuller before Pulis and his coaching staff were able to give them the once over.
According to The Sun, any deal for Austin will involve Stoke playing his Jamaican club Portmore United £1m.
Tony Pulis faces a battle with his old pal Gary Megson for the services of Birmingham midfielder FABRICE MUAMBA, according to the Daily Mail today.
Bolton, Stoke and Wigan are all interested in signing the 20-year-old former Arsenal starlet, but Megson is apparently ahead of the game after agreeing a fee of £3.5m with relegated Birmingham.
THE agent of Sunderland captain DEAN WHITEHEAD has played down reports the player is on his way to Stoke in a £3m deal.
Stoke are one of several club being linked with 26-year-old Whitehead amid reports of a bust-up with Black Cats boss Roy Keane.
The latest, according to the Daily Mirror, is relegated Reading. But Whitehead's representative, PFA senior executive Phil Sproson, says neither Sunderland nor Stoke have approached him about a deal for the midfielder, who has played 162 games for Sunderland.
Sproson said: "He has had one or two people interested in him during the last couple of years.
"I know Tony Pulis has been an admirer of his for a while, but that is only to say he is Tony's sort of player. Maybe people have picked it up from there."
Stoke assistant Dave Kemp was one of Whitehead's managers at Oxford before the player's £150,000 move to Sunderland four years ago.
Stoke also appear to have missed out on a £1.4m move for Barnsley skipper BRIAN HOWARD, according to the Daily Mail.
Wolves and Bolton Wanderers are now leading the chase for the man whose goal saw The Tykes sink Liverpool at Anfield in last season's FA Cup.
Stoke misfit Shola Ameobi may inadvertently boost the Potters' chances of landing £1m target JON WALTERS.
The Newcastle striker, who was on loan at Stoke towards the end of last season, is wanted by Walters's club Ipswich and they have reportedly agreed a £3.5m deal with the Geordies.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis, said by the Daily Mirror to be keen on Walters, will be hoping Ameobi's arrival at Portman Road may help ease through his man's departure. A major problem, though, could be Ameobi's desire to link up again with former Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder at Norwich City.
The Sun claims Stoke are now likely to miss out on a deal for KEVIN PHILLIPS. The veteran West Brom striker, a free agent who wants a longer contract than the 12 months offered by the Baggies , has been offered a two-year deal by relegated Derby and now seems certain to accept .
Pulis has renewed his interest in Portsmouth striker DAVID NUGENT, according to both The Daily Mirror and The Sun.
Stoke were close to taking the former Preston hitman on loan towards the end of last season.
That deal fell through, but Pulis is apparently still keen to sign Nugent and is prepared to spend £4m to do so ... despite reports he currently earns £27,000-a-week.
Stoke are apparently battling fellow Premier League new boys Hull City for the signature of Danish defender MAGNUS TROEST, according to The Sun.
ANTHONY GARDNER the Stafford-born Tottenham defender signed by the Londoners from Port Vale for £850,000 in 2000, is said to be keen on a move to Stoke to revive his flagging career.
Stoke have apparently joined Fulham in the race to sign Rangers' £3m-rated French striker DANIEL COUSIN, while they are also said to be interested in Aston Villa's MARLON HAREWOOD. He would cost £4m, but is also interesting Fulham and Rangers.
Manchester City's SUN JIHAI is said to be heading for the Brit. The 30-year-old China midfielder is out of contract.
Also on the Stoke radar is Rangers striker LEE McCULLOCH, possibly for a fee of about £1.5m. Apparently the former Wigan man would like to return to England.
PLAYER WATCH: WILL REGGAE BOYZ' AUSTIN BE DRIVING FORCE FOR STOKE?
Be the first reader to comment on this story
09:40 - 13 June 2008
<<
Stoke's promotion to the Premier League has ensured they are being linked with a plethora of players in the national media. So who has the rumour mill got plying their trade at the Brit next season? Read on to find out ...
STOKE fans hoping to see some Rolls-Royce players at the Britannia Stadium next season might have to make do with an Austin.
According to today's The Sun, one of Tony Pulis's first signings of the summer could be Jamaican international RUDOLPH AUSTIN.
Austin, who trained extensively at Stoke last season, was prevented from signing along with compatriot Demar Phillips last year because he didn't qualify for the required work permit.
But he is now pencilled in for Jamaica's two World Cup qualifiers against the Bahamas this summer and those two caps should help satisfy the red-tape regulations previously barring his entry into English football.
Both Austin and Phillips were initially recommended to Stoke by fellow Jamaican Ricardo Fuller before Pulis and his coaching staff were able to give them the once over.
According to The Sun, any deal for Austin will involve Stoke playing his Jamaican club Portmore United £1m.
Tony Pulis faces a battle with his old pal Gary Megson for the services of Birmingham midfielder FABRICE MUAMBA, according to the Daily Mail today.
Bolton, Stoke and Wigan are all interested in signing the 20-year-old former Arsenal starlet, but Megson is apparently ahead of the game after agreeing a fee of £3.5m with relegated Birmingham.
THE agent of Sunderland captain DEAN WHITEHEAD has played down reports the player is on his way to Stoke in a £3m deal.
Stoke are one of several club being linked with 26-year-old Whitehead amid reports of a bust-up with Black Cats boss Roy Keane.
The latest, according to the Daily Mirror, is relegated Reading. But Whitehead's representative, PFA senior executive Phil Sproson, says neither Sunderland nor Stoke have approached him about a deal for the midfielder, who has played 162 games for Sunderland.
Sproson said: "He has had one or two people interested in him during the last couple of years.
"I know Tony Pulis has been an admirer of his for a while, but that is only to say he is Tony's sort of player. Maybe people have picked it up from there."
Stoke assistant Dave Kemp was one of Whitehead's managers at Oxford before the player's £150,000 move to Sunderland four years ago.
Stoke also appear to have missed out on a £1.4m move for Barnsley skipper BRIAN HOWARD, according to the Daily Mail.
Wolves and Bolton Wanderers are now leading the chase for the man whose goal saw The Tykes sink Liverpool at Anfield in last season's FA Cup.
Stoke misfit Shola Ameobi may inadvertently boost the Potters' chances of landing £1m target JON WALTERS.
The Newcastle striker, who was on loan at Stoke towards the end of last season, is wanted by Walters's club Ipswich and they have reportedly agreed a £3.5m deal with the Geordies.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis, said by the Daily Mirror to be keen on Walters, will be hoping Ameobi's arrival at Portman Road may help ease through his man's departure. A major problem, though, could be Ameobi's desire to link up again with former Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder at Norwich City.
The Sun claims Stoke are now likely to miss out on a deal for KEVIN PHILLIPS. The veteran West Brom striker, a free agent who wants a longer contract than the 12 months offered by the Baggies , has been offered a two-year deal by relegated Derby and now seems certain to accept .
Pulis has renewed his interest in Portsmouth striker DAVID NUGENT, according to both The Daily Mirror and The Sun.
Stoke were close to taking the former Preston hitman on loan towards the end of last season.
That deal fell through, but Pulis is apparently still keen to sign Nugent and is prepared to spend £4m to do so ... despite reports he currently earns £27,000-a-week.
Stoke are apparently battling fellow Premier League new boys Hull City for the signature of Danish defender MAGNUS TROEST, according to The Sun.
ANTHONY GARDNER the Stafford-born Tottenham defender signed by the Londoners from Port Vale for £850,000 in 2000, is said to be keen on a move to Stoke to revive his flagging career.
Stoke have apparently joined Fulham in the race to sign Rangers' £3m-rated French striker DANIEL COUSIN, while they are also said to be interested in Aston Villa's MARLON HAREWOOD. He would cost £4m, but is also interesting Fulham and Rangers.
Manchester City's SUN JIHAI is said to be heading for the Brit. The 30-year-old China midfielder is out of contract.
Also on the Stoke radar is Rangers striker LEE McCULLOCH, possibly for a fee of about £1.5m. Apparently the former Wigan man would like to return to England.