Source: SKY_Sports
Brown hopeful of Sonko success
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Hull boss Phil Brown is hopeful that Ibrahima Sonko proves to be an adequate replacement for Michael Turner.[LNB] The 28-year-old defender was signed from Stoke on a season-long loan deal on transfer deadline day following Turner's sale to Sunderland.[LNB]Hull agreed an undisclosed fee for Turner, believed to be an initial £6million which could rise to £12m.[LNB]That marks a significant profit on the £350,000 Hull paid Brentford for Turner in the summer of 2006, although Brentford have benefitted from a 15 per cent sell-on clause.[LNB]Turner, 25, went on to help the Tigers win promotion to the Premier League and was named player of the year the last two seasons.[LNB]But Sonko is a Senegal international and has played in the Premier League for both Reading and Stoke, making 14 league appearances for the Potters last season.[LNB]Tremendous business"The Michael Turner deal represents tremendous business as far as we were concerned," Brown told Sky Sports News.[LNB]"I've just had a phone call from Michael wishing us all the best and it goes his way as well.[LNB]"It's disappointing that you lose one of your best players. He's been a great servant for us for the last two or three years.[LNB]"But it's time to move on, and we've brought in Ibrahima Sonko, obviously to try to fill the gap that Michael will leave.[LNB]"Hopefully the lad will go on to better himself and get onto the international stage.[LNB]"(Sunderland boss) Stevie Bruce has got himself a good character but we believe we've got ourselves a good character as well."[LNB]No Nugent approachBrown revealed that he was also trying to bring in another striker before the window slammed shut but denied he targeted Burnley loan signing David Nugent, as claimed earlier by Portsmouth's chief executive Peter Storrie.[LNB]The Tigers boss has still managed to make seven summer signings and is confident he has improved his options as he aims to secure a third straight year in the top flight.[LNB]"I've now got a stronger squad in terms of the long-term future of the football club," Brown added.[LNB]"There was some frustration at knocking at the door on a number of deals and the reasons those deals fall by the wayside is sometimes nothing to do with what you're doing.[LNB]"That's unfortunately the nature of the beast that we've created (with the transfer window)."[LNB]
