Confirmed - Sonko to Stoke

[brendywendy]

EP said:
“He has said he wants me and I am just wondering if the situation has changed.

“I need to sit down with the manager and see what his plans are and clarify the situation and exactly what he wants.

“I wouldn’t ask for a move and I respect my contract but if he decides it is time for me to move on then I would, but if I am in his plans and he wants me to stay then I will be happy either way.

“I want to know exactly what his plans are for me. If I don’t figure then it is best for me to move elsewhere, even if it is another Championship side.

“But if he says come back and fight for your place then I’ll be happy to stay. If he says you have to prove yourself and try and get your place back then that is fine, I understand that and will agree to that because that is fair enough.

“I think I am good enough to play and it is up to me to show I deserve to play for Reading, but I just don’t want to waste another year.

“Not playing is not the best thing for me. I didn’t play much last season and I can’t have two years of not playing because I would not be happy.

“I just want to play football because I know I am good enough to play.”

Coppell insists Sonko’s misdemeanour last season is now forgotten.

However, the boss insists it is up to the player to show him he deserves his place in the side.

The boss said: “The assurances I have to have is that first and foremost every player that stays here must want to stay here.

“They have got to be hungry to get back and prove they can regain their previous status.

“It’s not up to me to give assurances because they are all under contract.

“It is up to them to give me assurances, be in the right frame of mind to win their place in a competitive environment and get results for the club.”

[Terry Tibbs]

According to this mornings Sun, Stoke have bought Sonko for 2.5M

[Streets]

According to this mornings Sun, Stoke have bought Sonko for 2.5M

Behave.

If so then the chairman needs castrating!

[Platypuss]

Good business if true (if only to stop Coppell picking him).

[Royalwaster]

Good business if true (if only to stop Coppell picking him).

You what?

[Platypuss]

Apparently in Mail too, so, coupled with the reports from the Fans' forum, this one looks pretty likely.

[Tredder]

... to Stoke, today, for £2.5million, that's all your goals dried up. Direct news from the kit man.

[Stranded]

Yep, is defo in The Sun - reporting it as all done, which is strange as you'd have thought there would have been an announcement somewhere.

Guess we'll find out tomorrow (if we hear nothing today) if he doesn't make the squad.

[SCIAG]

What's his name then? (The kit man)

[PLASTIC PIG]

It's in the Daily Mail as well....must be true then

Actually I also heard elsewhere that he's off today

[RFCBoy]

It's also in The Sun
Says the deal has been "completed" today for 2.5 million.

Is this a good or bad deal as it does leave the door open for Bikey or Pearce or does it mean we don't have a goal scoring centre back?

[The whole year inn]

Meh.

No great loss

[Royalee]

Absolutely stupendously good deal if true.

[papereyes]

Meh.

No great loss

where are our goals going to come from?

[The whole year inn]

Meh.

No great loss

where are our goals going to come from?

Shane LOLong

[Big Ern]

Like with any potential sale of Doyle, I would have mixed feelings about this

Great price for a player that has struggled to regain form since a serious injury, and we have quite a few Centre backs at present. Also question marks remain as to whther he wants to be at the club. Also dissapointing as the money will dissappear into the black hole that is the clubs finances never to be seen again and no replacement is likely to be sought or the money spent on another player.

[Friday's Child]

Although one of our recent goalscorers, not a problem. Plenty of cover and money for other parts of the team. Good sale and good luck.

[Royalee]

It's also in The Sun
Says the deal has been "completed" today for 2.5 million.

Is this a good or bad deal as it does leave the door open for Bikey or Pearce or does it mean we don't have a goal scoring centre back?

I'd rather have a centre back who helps to keep clean sheets rather than one who scores a few goals every so often and then gives away about ten times that during the season through rash defending. Pearce is good attacking at set pieces and so is Bikey - those two also have far more ability than Sonko defensively.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Mixed feelings about this. On the whole been a great player for us, the 'Superman' picture is my PC wallpaper! but just too much of a liability these days. We have good young players at CB so maybe its best for the club in the long run.

[Big Ern]

With Ingi, Bikey, Pearce, Doobs and Sodje, the club could argue that there is enough cover in that position to allow Sonko to go.

£2.5million for a player that has said he wants to leave and has sturggled to regain form since a serious knee injury is a very good price. Only shame is that none of the money will be used to sign new players and the money will dissappear without trace into the club coffers never to be seen again.