Dan Brett on the latest ‘rumours’ that Ryan Shotton is on his way on loan.
Portsmouth are reported to have agreed yet another loan deal with Stoke City, this time for highly rated 21-year old defender Ryan Shotton to bolster their threadbare squad.
The youngster has had successful loan spells at lower league clubs including Altrincham and Tranmere, and is set to join Steve Cotterill’s side on a season-long loan which would see him stake his claim for a place in the Potters’ first team.
Pompey have already got two players on loan from the Premier League side, with defenders Ibrahima Sonko and Carl Dickinson also signing one-year loan agreements. It’s thought that the club are also in negotiations with the Football League regarding a loan move for City striker Dave Kitson, with an outcome expected at the board meeting on September 9.
With the club only allowed to sign two loan players over the age of 23 (with both before mentioned players being over said age bracket) from one club, it seems Pompey’s luck could be out in the race for Kitson – unless an emergency agreement can be reached with the league’s governing body.
The club could also profit from the 25-squad player rule imposed on the Premier League, with a whole host of players not being picked to play for their respective sides (including Craig Bellamy, who controversially joined his hometown Cardiff City earlier this week). Cotterill also has full use of free transfers to his disposal, with the likes of Benjani Mwaruwari, Darius Vassell and Bas Savage all waiting for a move to their next club.
Benjani, of course, is reported to owe money back to Portsmouth following a loan agreed by former CEO Peter Storrie, so a move to help both parties could be reached to bring the Zimbabwean international back to Fratton Park, and to the fans’ who still hold him in high regard.
Written by Dan Brett.
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