Stoke City eyeing Omar Gonzalez

Premier League side Stoke City is going the American way once again. The Potters already have American internationals Brek Shea and Geoff Cameron in their books as well as the rarely spotted former Glasgow Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu. And now, the side from the Britannia Stadium has been linked with a move for Los Angeles Galaxy player Omar Gonzalez on top of their chase for his American international team mate Juan Agudelo.

Gonzalez is a 24 year old centre back and standing at well over six feet, is a massive presence at the heart of the defense and in set pieces in the opposition area as demonstrated by his goal in the MLS All Star team’s 3-1 hammering of Italian giants AS Roma last week. According to a journalist from a local newspaper who was covering the match, a lot of scouts were present at the match and according to him; the player spoke to the officials of Stoke City before the match as well.

Gonzalez will see out his contract with Los Angeles Galaxy in December and the club will be facing a very difficult winter this year with the contracts of Gonzalez as well as that of Landon Donovan up. Born in Texas, Gonzalez holds dual American and Mexican passports and has been a part of the Los Angeles Galaxy team since 2009 and has also played alongside David Beckham.

Gonzalez made his debut for the United States Men’s National Team in 2010 and with head coach Jurgen Klinsmann preferring players playing in Europe rather than in the MLS, a move to Stoke City is something that will interest the player a lot. Moreover, being a free transfer, the club can also offer higher wages to the player and tempt him to play in the Premier League, which is a big lure.

Huth happy to fight for a starting berth

Stoke City defensive stalwart Robert Huth has hailed the club’s transfer business in the summer and welcomed the arrival of defensive pairing Marc Muniesa and Erik Pieters to the Britannia Stadium.

The German international had been a regular in the four man defense of the club under Tony Pulis since he signed for the club from Middlesbrough back in 2009 but now faces increased competition to secure a first team spot under new manager Mark Hughes, who is already trying to stamp his own authority on the club with the signing of two new players and negotiations underway for another couple of signings.

Muniesa, the former Barcelona defender, can play at the centre of the defense as well as at left back while Pieters is primarily a left wing back. And speaking to the official website of the club, Robert Huth stated that it is always good to have competition for places because it improves the individual game.

The former Chelsea man went on to state that the game is on and added that all the places that were occupied last season under Pulis are now up for grabs with a new man in charge. He mentioned that he needs to keep his head together and stay in shape and then see what happens. Huth mentioned that he had only seen Muniesa and Pieters before taking a look at them first hand in pre-season training.

Robert Huth is also raring to give it a go after undergoing a strict fitness program and regimen while on holiday at the end of the season. The former German international defender stated that he likes to do some hard work in the gym before returning for pre-season so when the club’s pre-season officially starts, the aches and pains don’t appear that other players normally get.