Stoke Deadline Day: Kelly to sign from Blues?

The transfer window may have shut three hours ago but it still seems as though Stoke may have some unfinished business.

Birmingham defender, Stephen Kelly had been heavily tipped all afternoon to be on his way to the Brit in exchange for Ibrahima Sonko who would then make the move to St. Andrews. Both would be loans for the remainder of the season.

The Irish international was the only Blues player to play every minute of every Premier League game last season but has found opportunities hard to come by this time around having made only two starts after three months out with a thigh muscle injury.

Any move is still to be confirmed but with no announcement by the club one way or another, it seems as though they’re still hopeful it could go through.

It’s not uncommon for deals to not be announced until after the deadline as the FA often have a backlog at the close of business and clubs put off any formal announcement until they have had official confirmation from the FA. With the snow also hampering their ability to complete the necessary medicals etc. the Premier League have given clubs dispensation to complete deals after the deadline as long as they can prove it had been agreed before 5pm.