http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...y-Black-Cats/story-12877025-detail/story.html "Stoke City: Is Pulis on the hunt for more stray Black Cats? Monday, July 04, 2011The SentinelFollow SO which Sunderland player are Stoke City going to sign this summer? It's not an unreasonable question to ask when you consider a Black Cats player has signed on the dotted line in the Potteries in each of the last five years. ​The list currently reads Rory Delap (2006), Liam Lawrence (2007), Danny Higginbotham (2008), Dean Whitehead (2009), Danny Collins (2009) and Kenwyne Jones â talent worth some £17m. So is Tony Pulis likely to return to the Stadium of Light again this summer is search of more bargains? Well it could be. There has already been speculation linking Stoke with Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan, although a fee of at least £12m may be a bit rich for Potteries consumption. However, there could well be a selection of stray Black Cats available in the next few weeks that are more in line with Pulis's budget. Insiders on Wearside are certain several players will become surplus to requirements as Steve Bruce continues his recruitment drive. So who are the Sunderland players tickling Pulis's fancy ... and what are the odds on them arriving at the Brit before August 31? PHIL BARDSLEY (3/1 fav) Tony Pulis has nibbled here once or twice in the past, but this could be the moment. True, he is Sunderland's new player-of-the-year, but so was Danny Collins when Bruce flogged him to Stoke. Scottish international Bardsley, pictured below, is widely recognised as a right-back, but won that accolade at left-back last season, so some attractive versatility to offer Stoke. Bruce has been vocal in his praise of the 25 year-old former Manchester United trainee, but that won't stop him trying to sign Wes Brown and John O'Shea from Old Trafford. And their arrival would surely pave the way for Bardsley to possibly treading a well-worn path to the Potteries. KIERAN RICHARDSON (4/1) Another who could be vulnerable to a Sunderland shake-up this summer. Still only 26, the cynics have described him as a jack of all trades, but master of none. A bit harsh, but where is his best position? He would say centre midfield, Bruce would apparently say left-back. Either way, he offers versatility, experience, exuberance and an eye for goal given the chance. A big earner, but Stoke have negotiated their way around that one before to get their man â and maintain their current wage structure. STEED MALBRANQUE (10/1) One goal in 102 appearances for Sunderland since joining from Tottenham three years ago, so don't get the wrong idea about his strengths. But he does offer great skill and vision to any central midfield able to accommodate the 31-year-old Frenchman. Malbranque could be a luxury player at this stage of Stoke's development? However, he can also play on either wing or behind the striker, so not a bad squad signing, particularly as doubts are surfacing over his ability to last 90 minutes these days. BOUDEWIJN ZENDEN (15/1) A free agent and so a free signing. That's the good news. The not-so-good news is the Dutchman's age. But they do say this fitness fanatic has the body of a 24-year-old, not a 34-year-old, and he is described as the perfect professional off the field. Another player offering quality and versatility, the former Dutch international can play centre midfield or out wide. Might succeed where Eidur Gudjohnsen failed. MARCOS ANGELERI (20/1) Marcos who? He's a 28-year-old Argentinian international, actually, and reckoned to be a right-back able to combine both flair and a tough tackle. Whether he could survive Andy Wilkinson's steely glance in training might be another matter, however. Arrived in the North East for £2m last summer, but his first campaign was disrupted by lingering injury problems. Has seemingly undergone a successful knee operation this summer and is ready to fire on all cylinders again. A loan deal at best, you suspect. CRISTIAN RIVEROS (20/1) The same goes for this 28-year-old Paraguayan international, a goalscoring midfielder finding the net at last year's World Cup finals. Vanished from view at the Stadium of Light last season, but Bruce points to the likes of Maynor Figueroa and Wilson Palacios as examples of South Americans needing a year to acclimatise before hitting top gear in this country. Hmm, that one sounds like a bit of sales patter. ANTON FERDINAND (30/1) Well someone has to rate him, other than his brother, but is that man Tony Pulis? Don't dismiss it completely. The Stoke boss likes nothing better than raising a player back to his feet after a tough time. And if he's a centre-half, so much the better. ASAMOAH GYAN (50/1) You wouldn't say no, but you're talking well over the £12m Sunderland paid for him last year. Also, he's the only fit striker on the books up there at the moment, while the Ghana international himself is going to be looking for clubs bigger than Stoke right now. MATTHEW KILGALLON (100/1) Once of Leeds and Sheffield United, he was so highly rated by Bruce that he sent him out on loan to Middlesbrough and Doncaster last season. OK, so he's a centre-half, but even Pulis draws the line." Bardsley please not. Kieran please not. Riveros maybe. Gyan - you must be joking! The rest please yes (depending on who we sign).
If Asamoah Gyan is playing for Stoke City on August 14th, I will shave my balls and walk naked down northumberland street with FTM tattoed on my arse. Who prints this ****ing ****e? If it were Man Utd, Arsenal or a top European club I may be wprried but Stoke City? We only seel them surplus requirements not current first teamers.
Pulis does this every time puts a very low bid in then when it gets knocked back says at least we went for him to sort of keep the fans happy think they may have sussed him now though. Sure you all remember his supposed bid of 6 or 8mil for Sturriddge a couple of weeks ago.
My helmet is safe mate, Gyan at Stoke? More chance of finding an employed person on the streets of Benwell at 10am.
Last year when I heard they were buying Jones for 9 million - (6 months after Spuds renewed interest and 15 million) I said the same.
Got to keep him....wouldnt it be great if he went on a goal scoring spree?....dafter things have happened
