English Premier League: Jones makes the Stoke switch and Bruce captures Wellbeck on loan
Sunderland’s star striker has secured a move to their fellow premier league competitors, Stoke City. Stoke paid a whopping eight million pounds for the Trinidadian striker who looked Liverpool bound during last season’s winter transfer window.
Steve Bruce, who took over at Sunderland after Roy Keane’s sanctimonious departure from the Tyneside club, has come out and explained why Kenwyne was sold to Stoke. Jones spent three good years at Sunderland, during which he scored twenty eight times in ninety eight appearances. Kenwyne not only proved himself as a goal threat at Sunderland but also managed to cement his place as one of the most physical strikers in the English Premier League.
At the start of the 2007-2008 season, Jones joined Sunderland in a move which amounted to a transfer fee of around six million pounds. His debut for the black cats came in their Premier League encounter against Manchester United, a match that eventually ended in a one nil defeat for Sunderland. Kenwyne scored his first league goal for Sunderland in an English Premier League match against Reading F.C. Through Jones’s goal, Sunderland were able to secure a two goals to one victory at the Stadium of Light.
In November 2007, Liverpool’s manager back then Rafael Benitez was speculated to be interested in signing the powerful target man. The proposed deal between Sunderland and Liverpool included an exchange of players, namely Jones to Liverpool and Peter Crouch to Sunderland. However, Sunderland evaluated their star striker at around twelve million pounds and thus refused any approach that came from the Merseyside club.
The nature of his performances for Sunderland has earned Jones praise from fellow footballers in the English Premier League. On 15th of March, 2008, Chelsea’s captain John Terry told the press after his club’s one nil victory for Sunderland, that Kenwyne is probably the best striker in the English premier league as far as aerial strength is concerned. The central defender also added that, the prolific former Southampton is very good and works very hard for his team mates.
Steve Bruce, Sunderland’s manager told the Sunderland Echo that, towards the end of Jones’s stay at Sunderland, the striker’s relationship with club’s management had deteriorated to a bad extent. Thus, Sunderland decided to part ways with their striker. Bruce also stated that, Kenwyne’s talent does not show often enough on the field and this becomes a source of frustration for himself as well as the fans at the club.
The former Manchester United defender and now the Sunderland manager also added that in football sometimes important decisions have to be made. With regard to Kenwyne’s move to Stoke, Steve said that the striker will suit Stoke because their style of play requires a big traditional, strong centre forward.
Kenwyne Jones, who signed a four year contract with Stoke which will keep him at the Potters till 2014, commented that, sometimes circumstances are created which force players to consider their future. Jones also said that he is not happy that he is leaving Sunderland after spending a good time there but the 25 year old marksman is looking forward to playing for Stoke City.
Stoke City’s manager; Tony Pulis also expressed his thoughts on Jones’s arrival at the Britannia stadium. He said that, Jones is a fantastic signing for Stoke City because they needed goals in their side. Pulis also emphasized the fact that, Stoke need to have competition for places in the first team amongst their strikers if they are to excel at the English Premier League level.
Kenwyne’s sale to Stoke City has prompted Steve Bruce to find another partner for Darren Bent upfront. Danny Wellbeck, the Manchester United youngster has already arrived at Sunderland on a loan deal. The 19 year old striker is considered by many at United to be the next big thing in English football. His style of play has been compared to the legendary former Arsenal striker, Thierry Henry.
Bruce will also be looking to Frazier Campbell and Darren Bent to add more goals to their respective tallies in the coming season, which kicks off on Saturday, the 14th of August 2010.
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