Pulis pulls them in as Stoke signal their intent in transfer market
Published:Stoke City were the Premier League’s busiest club as the transfer deadline day came to a close, and manager Tony Pulis will be hopeful his new signings can strengthen the team’s push for a top half finish.
Potters fans were delirious on hearing the news they had snapped up ex-Chelsea and Barcelona star Eidur Gudjohnson from Monaco in a season-long loan and Pulis said: “Eidur is a player of outstanding international calibre who has performed at the highest level.”
Stoke are short of strikers after losing Mamady Sidibe and record £8m signing Kenwyne Jones earlier in the season, and Gudjohnson will need to find the net if Stoke harbour any ambitions of challenging for a European spot.
Gudjohnson will benefit from the service that Pulis hopes Jermaine Pennant will provide after nabbing him on a six month loan deal from Real Zaragoza.
Pennant is much travelled but had a torrid season in Spain last year and Pulis hopes he can coax the final ball quality that Pennant can deliver as Stoke look to improve on last season’s 11th place finish – they are 100/1 to finish in the top four.
Marc Wilson will also feature in the Stoke squad this season after his permanent arrival from Portsmouth in a swap deal that saw Dave Kitson and Liam Lawrence move to the south coast as Portsmouth look to secure their Championship survival.
Stoke are 7/2 to be relegated but with these new signings, Pulis can look forward to attacking the Premier League this season and maintaining the club’s place in the top half of the table.
Gudjohnson is a real coup for Stoke and should provide them with the firepower to keep them away from relegation. See the latest Barclays Premier League football betting markets here.
