It`s OFFICIAL – Wilson Palacios is now a Stoke city player – and Peter Crouch & Cameron Jerome are also closing in on moves to the Potteries.
The 27-year-old has penned a four-year-deal at the Britannia Stadium after signing for £8 million and is the Potters` third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson.
Tottenham striker Peter Crouch is expected to follow Palacios to the Britannia stadium in a £10 million deal later tonight, with Pulis targeting a sensational double-swoop in an attempt to push on from Stoke`s already impressive start to the season.
Birmingham forward Cameron Jerome has been linked with the Potters throughout the summer and he will also complete a move to Stoke very soon, in a £3.5 million deal.
Palacios moved to White Hart Lane from Wigan for £12 million in January 2009 but found first-team opportunities limited, with the likes of Luka Modric, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas and Sandro all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Palacios featured in all three of Honduran`s world cup matches and made 22 starts for Tottenham last season, impressing in the 1-0 away win at AC Milan in the Champions League, where Palacios helped Spurs dominate the midfield area against the likes of Flamini, Gattuso and Seedorf.
I must admit, I never thought we`d be able to entice a player of Wilson`s pedigree, sensational for Wigan and outstanding for Spurs in many games against top opposition – Palacios will slot into Stoke`s system perfectly . I never believed Pulis could do it, but this, as well as the signing of Crouch, must be as close to a rock the city signing as it gets?
In terms of improving the first 11, the position of centre midfield has always been the main priority as we`ve struggled to get a hold of the ball at times, especially away from home. Palacios is a gifted footballer who fits in with our ‘DNA` of working extremely hard but he also has genuine quality, after a wonderful season at Wigan he was being touted for a move to Manchester United, added to the fact that Spurs were asking well over £10 million for his signature earlier in the window, and it`s fair to say Pulis has performed a masterstroke with this one.
Welcome Wilson!
I`ll leave Charlie Bennett to report the(hopefully)good news about the rest of the signings later!
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