Pulis: Stoke are close to a permanent deal for Pennant

Tony Pulis has confirmed that Stoke are very close to a permanent deal for Jermaine Pennant.

The winger is currently on loan to the Potteries from Spanish side Real Zaragoza and Pulis has been keen to make the deal permanent.

Speaking after the 2-0 defeat to Fulham, Pulis said: “We’ve got very close to doing a deal. I think Zaragoza have become a lot more reasonable but I think as a football club we knew this was going to happen.

“We knew that the closer you took it to the deadline the more responsive they would get an I think that’s the way it’s going.

“I think they’ve recognised and they’ve realised that we haven’t got the money that they thought we had and there’s a good chance the deal will be done.”

“It’ll be a permanent deal, it’ll be a two and a half year contract. I know people are working behind the scenes to get it done now.”

The Stoke boss also emphasised how impressed he has been with the 27-year-old former Liverpool player’s form at the club, but underlined he still has room for improvement.

“He’s done really well,” Pulis added. “His attitude has been good, his performances have been very good and the crowd like him.

“He’s a crowd favourite and he will be because he can take people out of the game and deliver great crosses but one thing with him he’s got to start scoring some goals. I don’t think that anyone has told him that being a forward player you’ve got to score goals.

“Matty [Etherington] got six or seven for us last year. Jermaine’s got the opportunity and the chance to do that and that’s been one thing we’ve been really disappointed with in respect of his return because technically he’s a very good player.”