Unique 1:1 Traffic Exchange

Monday 4 July 2011

Stoke, Celtic,Blackburn and Sunderland Chase Bellamy

Stoke City have joined the race to sign Craig Bellamy from Manchester City, with Celtic, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers also exploring the possibility of taking the Welshman on a season-long loan.

Bellamy has one year remaining on his contract at Eastlands but there is also a 12-month option that is in the club's favour, meaning that City can still ask for a significant fee for the 31-year-old. There is certainly no chance of Bellamy remaining at City, with Roberto Mancini, the club's manager, having made it clear last summer that the striker is not part of his plans.

The most likely outcome is that Bellamy, who spent last season on loan with Cardiff City, where he scored 11 goals in 36 appearances, will be allowed out on loan for another campaign. City, however, have no intention of sanctioning another deal where they cover the majority of the player's wages, which was the case with Cardiff.

Tony Pulis would be keen to take Bellamy on a season-long loan as he seeks to add more firepower to his forward line. The Stoke manager also retains an interest in Birmingham City's Cameron Jerome and West Ham United's Carlton Cole, and it may well be that signing either of those players is more straightforward than Bellamy, who stated last season that he would not play for another Premier League club other than Manchester City.

At that point, Bellamy was talking in terms of returning to Cardiff for a second season, as part of his dream to lead his hometown club into the Premier League, although he now appears to accept that it is highly unlikely that will happen. Celtic, where Bellamy spent the second half of the 2004‑05 season, appears his most likely destination, with the Scottish Premier League club keen to secure his services for a second time.

Pulis, nonetheless, would like the opportunity to test the water with Bellamy. The Stoke manager is keen to add experience and quality to his squad ahead of a season that will place greater demands on his players because of the club's participation in the Europa League. Bellamy fits that profile.

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