Stoke City handed transfer advice as 'sensible' Tom Cannon replacement named
Stoke City have been told who to sign to replace Tom Cannon as Mark Robins looks to “consolidate” after taking over as manager at the bet365 Stadium.
The former Coventry boss saw his top scorer recalled by Leicester City earlier this week and will now be looking at options to replace some of Cannon’s 11 goals for the Potters this season.
Stoke have been tipped to recruit a man Robins signed for Coventry during the summer in Brandon Thomas-Asante, and one pundit and former player reckons it would be a good move for both player and club.
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Former England international Carlton Palmer told Football League World: “He's worked with Robins before, he's 26, and he's well down the pecking order at Coventry at the moment.
“Robins knows the player well, and while his record of late hasn't been great, he has scored 10/11 goals for West Brom in this league before.
"Coventry have, when they're fit, at their disposal Ellis Simms, Haji Wright and Norman Bassette who can all play up front, so I'm sure a sensible deal can be made between the two clubs.”
As for Robins’ prospects at Stoke, Palmer added: “I like Robins. All he wants to do is consolidate this season at Stoke, so bringing in somebody he knows who can get them eight, nine or 10 goals between now and the end of the season would be a good return.
“He's not going to be as prolific as Cannon, but he's a good foil for the rest of the team. He's a good target man; he links things up well, he's a big, strong presence.
"For Stoke to bring him in for reasonable money makes absolute sense. For Frank Lampard it makes sense for him to free up some money to bring in players in other areas, seeing as he's blessed with quite a few attacking options.
"So, it’s a good bit of business for Stoke City if they can get him in for £1.75m and as long as Coventry are sensible, I think that's a deal that will get done."
While Robins was non-commital on his striker search at his latest press conference, Coventry boss Frank Lampard was more forthright on Thomas-Asante.
He said: “He is our player, and remains so. There is always going to be speculation. We get linked with players, half of which are nonsense. The rumour mill and actually what happens are two different things. At the minute it doesn't mean anything to me.”
Azzurri mission
Stoke City under-18s defender Laurence Giani has been called up by Italy for two age group matches against Spain.
Italy under-17s, the reigning European champions, will take on their Spanish counterparts on Tuesday and Thursday in Florence.
The 16-year-old left-back, who was named in a first team matchday squad for the first time when the Potters faced Southampton in the Carabao Cup last October, qualifies for Italy through his father and grandfather.
Giani, who grew up near Northwich and has been with Stoke since he was at primary school, received his maiden call-up for Italy in October. He will join the rest of the squad at Centro Tecnico Federale in Florence on Sunday.
Sam's the man for Imps
Lincoln City have signed Stoke City old boy Sam Clucas on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Now 34, the Lincoln-born midfielder came through the Imps academy before playing for the Swansea and Hull in the top-flight, but made more than 130 appearances for the Pottes during an injury-hit five years at the bet365 Stadium.
League One Lincoln have an option to extend the contract for a further 12 months, and head coach Michael Skubala said: “This is a different type of signing, but a clever one in that Sam is ‘coming home’ towards the end of a fantastic career wanting to contribute on and off the pitch. He will add knowledge, experience and leadership to the group as well as his undoubted quality.”
