Stoke target last day signings

Stoke City are reported to have targeted three last minute signings ahead of the closure of the January transfer window at 5pm on Monday.

Marlon Harewood seems to be still on Tony Pulis’ hit list after several attempts to sign the former West Ham striker from Aston Villa over the past twelve months. Although we do worry about Harewood’s match fitness after he’s been sitting on the sidelines at Villa Park for the last year. If he did come he may only end up making up the numbers at the Brit but would certainly give Pulis more options to mix and match up front.

Another long term target that is reported to be still in the frame is the Senegal midfielder, Guirane N’Daw. We were said to be interested in signing him in the summer but he then made the move from French club Sochaux to fellow Ligue 1 side, Nantes instead. We’re not sure of any reason why the 24 year old would now think this was the right time for another move as he has been a regular in Nantes’ starting eleven this season.

Finally, we are rumoured to have failed in an attempt to sign Hassan Yedba from Benfica after apparently submitting a £4m bid for the French midfielder.

The Potters have only managed two signings during the January transfer window, but James Beattie and Matt Etherington seem to have settled in well already and both have endeared themselves to the fans. Beattie has already made his mark with two goals and an assist in the three games he’s now played and Etherington has also shown that he gives us new options down the wing that we were desperately lacking – epitomised in yesterday’s great cross that allowed Beattie to score the winner against Man City.