Stoke City have not paid a fee to take Rabbi Matondo on loan from Schalke until the end of the season.
Stoke completed a deal for the highly-rated youngster last week, agreeing a loan deal with Schalke to bring the 20-year-old back to England.
The transfer has been considered something of a coup for the Championship side, who currently sit eighth in the table and two points outside the playoff places.
It’s hoped the winger can provide Michael O’Neill’s side with added impetus in the second half of the season, but it appears the deal may be better than first thought.
WAZ report that Matondo’s loan deal to Stoke only brought a ‘small salary saving’ of less than a million Euros for the club, who are desperately trying to arrange their finances to strengthen their squad to fight against relegation.
That financial help has not come from Stoke City, though, who have only covered Matondo’s wages and have not paid a loan fee for the youngster.
It now remains to be seen if the winger can have the impact the Potters are hoping for, with the finances making this a deal that was well worth getting done.