Aston Villa's John Carew in Stoke talks

20 January 2011 21:25
Stoke are closing on a deal for Aston Villa striker JohnCarew with Eidur Gudjohnsen heading for Ajax and Ricardo Fuller wanted bySunderland and Birmingham.[LNB][LNB]Carew was due to hold talks with West Brom yesterday butheaded to Stoke where he underwent a medical ahead of a proposed six monthloan.[LNB]Sunderland are in pole position for Fuller but Stoke wantclose to £5million for the 31-year-old and the player is understood to beholding out for wages of around £55,000 a week.[LNB]That is likely to rule out Birmingham who have alsoexpressed an interest in the Jamaican and in Stoke's Turkish striker Tuncay.[LNB] Up for grabs: Norway striker John Carew is set to leave Aston Villa[LNB]Sunderland remain keen but will look to strike a dealaround £3m with Fuller's long-term fitness sure to figure in negotiations.[LNB]Gudjohnsen, 32, has had a difficult time at Stoke but isclose to agreeing a deal to link up with Frank de Boer where he could replaceLiverpool target Luis Suarez.[LNB][LNB]Stoke look likely to drop their interest in Hoffenheim'sDemba Ba but have discussed the possibility of bringing in his teammateGhanaian winger Prince Tagoe.[LNB] Target: Ricardo Fuller (second left)[LNB]Assistant manager Dave Kemp said: 'Carew has met themanager, there's been discussions, but that doesn't mean the deal is done. Withtransfers these days it's not cut and dried with one conversation - that'swhere we're at with this one.'[LNB]On Ba, Kemp  added:'He's not fit to play right now and we want players that can play right now,come in and make an impression, and I don't think he's in a position to do that.That's not to say the deal couldn't be resurrected some time in the future, butI don't think it will be done in the foreseeable future.'[LNB]Carew is out of contract at Villa Park at the end of theseason.[LNB] West Bromwich want Aston Villa's striker Carew for Blackburn clashDeath threats aimed at Bent as fall-out rumbles on over Villa's £24m signingSunderland ready to land £3m-rated Stoke striker Fuller to replace BentNewcastle look to rescue unsettled star Ireland from Aston Villa nightmare[LNB]  Explore more:People: Eidur Gudjohnsen Places: Birmingham

Source: Daily_Mail