Sky Sports: Ipswich Town: Ali Al-Hamadi to join Stoke City on loan.

Ali Al-Hamadi, the Ipswich Town striker, will join Stoke City on loan until the end of the season. According to the EADT and Ipswich Star, who were the first to report the Potters’ interest, they beat off competition from several other Championship clubs to sign the 22-year-old after agreeing to pay a large loan fee. The deal does not include a purchase option clause. The Blues did negotiate permanent and loan arrangements with interested parties, notably West Brom, for the Iraqi international. They still hold the player in high respect and were only willing to let him go permanently if they could make a good profit on the £2 million they paid AFC Wimbledon.

 

Stoke, who recently appointed Mark Robins as manager, are now two points above the relegation zone. Al-Hamadi, who passed his physical, will not be available for tomorrow’s home game against Oxford United. He could make his debut at Hull City next Saturday. The losses of Al-Hamadi and George Edmundson, who is poised to join Middlesbrough for £650k, will reduce Town to 26 senior players. Deregistering the injured Chiedozie Ogbene will bring them under the 25-man restriction. If the Blues want to recruit a senior striker, they will need to make another exodus.

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