Sky Sports News are now reporting it as well. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...w-Dogba-loan/story-13230510-detail/story.html STOKE City are trying to pull off the shock signing of Chelsea wonderkid Romelu Lukaku in a loan deal until January, The Sentinel can reveal. The 18-year-old Belgian striker, seen by many as Didier Drogba's long-term replacement at Stamford Bridge, is believed to be available because Chelsea want him to gain experience with regular games. However, Stoke could yet lose out to Benfica as the Portuguese giants are hoping to persuade Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas to favour a club from his homeland. Lukaku joined Chelsea from Anderlecht earlier this month in a deal that could eventually be worth £18m. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7138393,00.html Sky Sports sources understand that Stoke are in talks with Chelsea over a proposed loan move for Romelu Lukaku. Tony Pulis has made no secret of his desire to strengthen the Potters squad ahead of Wednesday's 11pm transfer deadline. Stoke are looking to maintain the progress they have made over the past few years in the Premier League, while they also have to cope with the demands of a Europa League campaign this season. A number of names have been linked with a move to the Britannia Stadium and it is understood that Lukaku has been identified as a possible transfer target. The two clubs are now believed to be in discussions over a loan deal, with Chelsea apparently open to the idea of letting him go on a short-term basis. Lukaku only arrived at Stamford Bridge from Anderlecht this month and made his Premier League debut as a late substitute against Norwich at the weekend. Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas may feel that he has enough attacking options at his disposal for the foreseeable future with the likes of Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge, while Lukaku would benefit from gaining experience of English football by playing more regularly at Stoke. Jerome The powerful Belgian striker, 18, would be an exciting addition to the Potters squad but he is not the only player under consideration by Pulis. It is understood that Stoke are also in pole position to sign Cameron Jerome from Birmingham ahead of Fulham. Jerome has been linked with a move away from St Andrew's since Blues suffered relegation at the end of last season and Stoke and Fulham were both believed to be monitoring his situation. But it is the Potters who are thought to be closest to securing a deal as Pulis looks to add some extra firepower. The 6' 3'' striker was also courted by several European giants, including Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. He is seen as a carbon copy of Drogba, his boyhood idol, and the Ivorian's presence at Stamford Bridge was a major factor in his opting for Chelsea. Lukaku made his English debut on Saturday as a late replacement for Fernando Torres in Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Norwich. He netted 41 goals in 98 appearances for Anderlecht, while at international level he has bagged two in nine since making his senior debut for Belgium when aged just 16. His arrival at Stoke would add a new, exciting and unforeseen dimension to a forward line desperately lacking in numbers and variety since Ricardo Fuller's Achilles tendon injury in April and John Carew's exit a month later. The chances of adding Spurs striker Peter Crouch to Stoke's firepower remained in the balance entering the final 36 hours of the transfer window. Sources close to the 30-year-old England striker say he is staying put after his long-term prospects at White Hart Lane appeared to improve following his surprise inclusion for Sunday's home defeat by Manchester City. Pulis does have at least one alternative striker up his sleeve if his pursuit of Crouch, first revealed in The Sentinel last month, does falls through. He is also awaiting a decision from Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who is mulling over loan offers from Stoke, Bolton and QPR. Meanwhile, the arrival of Crouch's Tottenham team-mate, Wilson Palacios, in a £6m deal could be confirmed today. The Honduran international midfielder is believed to have undergone a medical, and City are now thought to be awaiting his international clearance. Manager Tony Pulis, pictured below, must then decide whether Palacios's arrival gives him sufficient personnel to consider West Ham interest in Glenn Whelan. The 27-year-old Irish international, who has clocked up 127 appearances since arriving from Sheffield Wednesday for £500,000 in January 2008, would head out of the Potteries for a healthy profit. Whelan has established himself as a regular in the Irish line-up during his time at the Britannia Stadium.
Probably not, but you never know. He's the ultimate Pulis striker!! By the sounds of Twatter and some other media sources, i'd guess we're trying for one of Lukaku, Cisse and Bendtner.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14716748.stm Stoke have approached Chelsea with a view to signing striker Romelu Lukaku on loan, BBC Sport understands. Lukaku, 18, only arrived at Stamford Bridge in early August and the Belgian made his Chelsea debut on Saturday in the 3-1 win over Norwich. Meanwhile, the Potters are on the verge of signing Wilson Palacios from Tottenham for £6m with the 27-year-old midfielder set to have a medical. Stoke have also been linked with Spurs striker Peter Crouch in recent days. And Danish media are reporting that Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner could be on his way to the Britannia Stadium. Chelsea signed Lukaku for about £20m on 6 August. He became a household name in Belgium when he was the top scorer in the domestic league in the 2009-2010 season at the age of 16. He scored 16 goals in 37 league goals last season and scored his first international goals in a 2-0 win over Russia in November.
SSN - Lukaku won't be joining. It is against FA rules to loan a player the same window as he's bought in.
Just heard Jerome mentioned again... Thought he'd gone to Bolton, they must have realised he's rubbish and pulled out.
At least the Jerome price has fallen to about £3m-£4m. Lets face it we're going to need a work horse as backup and Jerome at that price wouldn't be bad business.
Yep, I knew about that rule Sgt, i.e. it will never happen. Jerome?? Better than nothing but would like SWP to be honest... can't see anything else on twitter apart from Cahill is talked about.. re Stoke and Joe Cole to QPR Are they doing a Sunderland? Got the Arsenal player Triore spelling it's done deal.
Re Luakaku - in an earlier thread I said that I did not think that SCFC have a coherent strategy when they enter a transfer window.Clearly the people responsible do not even know the rules. Our need for forwards is now beginning to take on that look of desperation. NickyB likes to quote Shakespeare -our ability to procrastinate puts Hamlet in the shade, and look what happened to him! Personally given a choice between Bendtner and Crouch, I would have liked Bendtner. Palacios actually signed yet, or are we about to clinch defeat from the jaws of victory with that signing too?
Swervy I could not agree more... organised chaos.. as usual. I KNEW about the Luakaku situation. SO should TONY Scholes and Co.. Only Scholes and Co would do something so stupid.
Swervy, To misquote from Richard III - but hopefully appropriate: Now is the transfer window of our discontent. Perchance made glorious summer by this son of Newport
Me again Swervy, To procastinate - after a rather nasty old Greek called Procastes. His speciality torture was to STRETCH his victims on a rack. So - Pulis stretching things out and US his victims Tee hee
Nicky, Thanks - I never knew that! Shall we chuck in some Lady Macbeth "out, out damn ,,,,,," (complete as appropriate!
If you procratinate too often Nick, Is it illegal.. OH S*** SUNDERLAND want Crouch You are kidding TONY????????????????????
and they will sign him because Pulis arse's about too much, Bruce likes em he signs em...........simples!
