Pennant wants deal wrapped up

Jermaine Pennant is keen for Real Zaragoza and Stoke to get his future sorted sooner rather than later.

His loan period with the Potters ends in just over a week’s time and he’s already made it very clear that he wants to stay at the Brit and not have to go back to the Spanish club. From our perspective, it would also be very beneficial not to have to lose one of more influential players right in the middle of one of the busiest times of the season – even it was only for short time.

But it’s been obvious for some time that Real intend to extract as much money as they can for the former Liverpool player who cost them nothing 18 months ago. £8m was rumoured to be the opening gambit from Real with Stoke more likely to want to pay between £2m and £4m for the 27 year old who still has over a year left on his contract.

Hopefully, a deal can be struck in the next few days – rather than letting it drag on for another month.