Stoke transfer news – 3 days to go

Things are hotting up in the transfer market with news that there could be one in and several moving towards the exit at the Brit.

Ibrahima Sonko looks set to join the Potters in a £2.5m move from Reading. The Senegalese defender will join fellow countrymen Abdoulaye Faye, Amdy Faye and Salif Diao at the Brit and rejoin fellow ex-Royal, Dave Kitson who joined in the summer.

Sonko is reported to have trained with the squad this morning before travelling with the team to their hotel for tomorrow’s match at Middlesborough, although Reading’s official site maintains that he “is in contention” for a place in their match against Crystal Palace after being forced to miss their Carling Cup win over Luton in midweek after picking up two yellow cards in the match against Charlton last weekend. But there are various reports that both sides have agreed a deal subject to a medical and no official announcements have yet been made leading some to suppose that the Potters could be waiting for news of Haminu Dramani and Kanga Akale before announcing Sonko’s signing.

Ryan Shotton has joined Tranmere Rovers on a month’s loan just days after his first team debut at Cheltenham Town.

England U21 defender Ryan Shawcross has said that he may look for another club if the club do confirm Sonko’s signing. The 21 year old joined the Potters from Man United for a then record £1m last season and completed a good first season, but it does look as though he will find it tough to regain a regular first team slot after failing to impress in the opening game against Bolton and was dropped in favour of Abdoulaye Faye last Saturday. We’d like to think that he’ll stay and fight for his place as he has proved he has the skills to be a far better player in the future.