Source: Daily_Mail
Sensational Stoke complete signing of Middlesbrough star Tuncay
Stoke City have completed the signing of Middlesbrough forward Tuncay for £5million.
The Turkey captain joins former Boro team-mate Robert Huth at the Britannia Stadium after the Germany defender sealed his switch from Teesside last night.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: 'Tuncay is an exciting player with his pace and skill who will certainly get the crowd going.'
'He is also a player of international calibre and a leader of his national team.'
Pulis clinched the signing of Huth for £5m on Thursday, although that fee could eventually rise to a club-record £6m.
'Robert has a great presence about him,' added the Stoke boss.
'He is a big, strong defender and the fact he has played nearly 20 times for Germany is some recommendation in my book. He's one you know you can lean on.'
Chief executive Tony Scholes said the fact the club had been able to pay out £10m inside 24 hours and attract such talent spoke volumes about their ambitions this season.
'We are delighted to bring a player of Tuncay's quality to the club because he has attracted attention from a number of big clubs, as indeed had Huth,' he told the club's official website.
'Therefore this is a powerful statement of our intentions as we look to move the club forward.'
Stoke are awaiting confirmation from the FA and Premier League thatthe two new signings can play in Saturday's home match against Sunderland.
Pulis swooped for Turkey captain Tuncay after his £5m move to Birmingham City fell through.
Huth did attract interest from Aston Villa and Everton, but only Stoke matched Middlesbrough's valuation.
Boro boss Gareth Southgate acceptedthe double bid for the pair.
Both players are on more than £50,000-a-week and wanted top flight football, but their high wages put off the majority of clubs in Europe.
But ambitious Pulis has a large budget aftersecuring a second Premier League season.
He was able to match the twoBoro players' demands, and satisfy their ambitions at such anunfashionable club whose playing style will hardly match Sanli's silky skills.
The Turkey international was due to join Birmingham next week, butthe Midlands club were forced to shelve their bid after falling foul ofStock Market rules.
Carson Yeung, the Bluesowner-in-waiting, contacted the club to say he was prepared to stump upthe cash for the deal but then it became apparent that Stock Marketregulations in Hong Kong prevented such a course of action.
Theloss of two influential players will be a blow to Middlesbrough'spromotion hopes following relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship lastseason.
Huth and partner David Wheater helped them to fourclean sheets in the league while Tuncay scored three from the bench inthree games. But their exit will ease the burden on the club's wage bill.
Selling German international Huth leaves Southgate short of a centre-back for Saturday's trip to Bristol City but youngsters Seb Hines or Jonathan Grounds can partner David Wheater, who will be not leaving the club during the transfer window.
Southgate expects club captain Emanuel Pogatetz and former Derby defender Chris Riggott to be fit within a fortnight and believes he does not need extra cover.
However, he does need at least one more striker and Danny Webber, Jermain Beckford, Rob Hulse and Rob Earnshaw have all been linked with the club.
