Loan time at Stoke again

After missing out on several permanent signings during the summer transfer window, the Potters are again being forced into the loan market this season.

Having said that, last year’s loan signings were the success story of the season and the arrivals of Hendrie, Griffin and Diao etc were followed enviously by other Championship clubs. All Tony Pulis has to do now is to repeat the success this time around….

To those ends, we’re now being linked with Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, Glenn Whelan. The former Irish U21 international has so far refused to sign a new contract at Hillsborough. Stoke were rumoured to have been trying to sign him permanently and any loan deal could pave the way for him to sign a contract with the Potters in January before the Owls lose him for nothing next summer.

Pulis has also not given up on finally netting Salif Diao, who is a free agent so not limited to the transfer window. But it now seems that the re-signing of Diao would be seen as a bonus rather than anything the Potters are relying on.

In a possible move away from the Brit, Andy Wilkinson could be about to go, on loan, to Blackpool. The Championship newcomers tried to sign him up on a permanent deal last month, but having failed now feel as though Pulis will finally let him go on loan with a view to him joining full time in January on a fee rumoured to be around £200,000.