Search for
Search for
Search forStoke City: Fulop not only keeper on Potters' radar
09:41 - 26-July-2008
Pulis hopes to secure the services of another senior keeper when he returns later today from an Austrian trip that ended controversially when over-zealous refereeing led to late red cards for Danny Pugh and Liam Lawrence in last night's 2-1 victory over Bahrain.
A deal thought to be in the region of £3m has been agreed with Sunderland and Fulop is now poised for face-to-face talks with Stoke hierarchy over a long-term deal.
But Pulis is also assessing two other options that could yet bar Fulop's proposed move to the Britannia Stadium to challenge Steve Simonsen for the number one berth.
Fulop, who had a short loan spell at Stoke towards the end of last season, has remained a front-runner for the keeping vacancy created by Carlo Nash's end-of-season return to Wigan.
Only during the brief and unsuccesssful courtship of Liverpool's West Brom-bound Scott Carson did Fulop drop temporarily out of the running.
Work is also still continuing behind the scenes to clinch a deal for an unnamed Championship midfielder on Stoke's shopping list.
Pulis, meanwhile, declared himself happy with the efforts of a Stoke team deprived of half-a-dozen senior players through illness and injury ahead of last night's 2-1 victory in Kapfenburg.
Richard Cresswell's second pre-season goal set Stoke on their way before Vincent Pericard's powerful header sealed their triumph in the 75th minute.
“It just wasn't worth the gamble of risking players who were feeling one or two twinges,” said Pulis, “and it was only right and fair to them after seeing them put in a good shift on the training pitch this week.
“It also gave others the chance of a good workout in pretty competitive action to round off a hard week's work out here.
“Vince started off well last year, if you remember, and that goal was another reminder of what he is capable of doing.”
Stoke will assess the various ailments currently afflicting the likes of record signing Dave Kitson, Andy Griffin, Ryan Shawcross and Mama Sidibe ahead of their next friendly at Notts County on Tuesday evening.
Match report: Page 58
STOKE'S new home kit is back in stock.
Unprecedented demand in the wake of Stoke's promotion to the Premier League saw the club's initial delivery fly off the shelves of the club's shops at the Britannia Stadium and in Hanley.
But the club announced today that the 2008/2009 Le Coq Sportif home kit is back in stock and on sale both online and in store. It is available in all sizes.
EARLY BATH: Stoke City's Liam Lawrence fails to hide his disbelief after receiving his marching orders during last night's friendly victory over Bahrain. Photo: MARTIN ELLIOTT
Email this story to a friend
Print this story
Comment on this story
Be the first reader to comment on this story.