Stoke set to battle Newcastle for want-away Germany star
Published:
Stoke City are set to do battle with Newcastle this summer in a bid to land Schalke’s want-away striker Sidney Sam.
The 27-year-old seemed to be in the ascendency last summer moving from Bayer Leverkusen to Schalke and being selected for Germany’s preliminary World Cup squad.
However, he failed to make the cut for the final 23-man squad that went on to lift the trophy and things have gone from bad to worse since then with the former Hamburg star now struggling for game time at the Veltins-Arena.
Sam has made just 10 appearances for his new club in the Bundesliga and four more in cup competition but is yet to open his account for Die Konigsblauen.
Such is Sam’s plight, it is understood he is seeking a new challenge in a new country to reinvigorate his career and this has led the Potters and the Magpies to consider moves for the forward.
With his future in the national side now under threat Sam is seeking first team opportunities and Stoke boss Mark Hughes believes he can get the striker firing again.
Newcastle were the first club to register an interest, making initial inquiries during the transfer window, but Stoke’s desire to take the player on loan to begin with could be a more agreeable option for all concerned.
Next up for Stoke is the visit of Crystal Palace and despite the Eagles improved form since the arrival of Alan Pardew it is the hosts that go into the game as favourites.
Hughes’ men can be backed at 11/10 to delight the Britannia Stadium crowd with all three points, while Palace are priced at 11/4 to cause an upset.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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