The day before transfer deadline day, Spanish newspaper Marca explained Stoke City were playing hardball over Joseul.
They wanted a transfer fee of €10m for the striker, even though he’d had a bad season for the club and not been such an important player under manager Mark Hughes.
At €10m Stoke City would have been making a profit and, at that late stage of the transfer window they found it impossible to get a deal on their own terms. Therefore, Joselu has gone to Deportivo La Coruna on loan, and it’s still costing Stoke.
Marca say Joselu arrives at Depor without payment for a loan and with Stoke City continuing to pay ‘a significant part’ of his wages.
Richard Barral, the Spanish club’s sporting director, is quoted by Marca as saying: “We will pay a salary based on what we can pay, and what we had assigned for the front position.”
It doesn’t sound a great deal for Stoke City but if Joselu can impress in La Liga next season then they should be able to get a transfer fee in a year.
