Stoke and Sunderland fight for Peter Crouch

Posted Wednesday, August 31, 2011 by thesun.co.uk

Stoke and Sunderland fight for Peter Crouch
DECISION TIME ... Peter Crouch

PETER CROUCH is at the centre of a £12million tug of war between Sunderland and Stoke.

The two clubs have made identical bids for Tottenham's 6ft 7in striker with the transfer deadline looming.

Crouch now has until 11pm tonight to decide which can offer him the best in football and financial terms — he will be after around £60,000 a week — as there is no future for him at White Hart Lane.

Last week's on-loan arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City has pushed him further down the pecking order, with Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko also in competition for places up front.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, under fire after his team's disappointing start to the season, is banking on Crouch to get the fans off his back.

And he believes Crouch will prove the answer to his problems, thanks to Anton Ferdinand. The defender's proposed move to QPR will trim the wage bill at the Stadium of Light, helping Bruce fund a deal for the ex-Liverpool star.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said last night: "There are a few clubs that want him. We'll have to wait and see.

"It's up to Crouchie. I have had Peter at a few clubs and he's a good player, a great guy. But with Adebayor coming in, it's an area where we are a little bit overloaded and he is one people want."

Stoke chief Tony Pulis will go for Cameron Jerome and Nicklas Bendtner should he fail to land Crouch.

He is willing to offer £4m for Birmingham striker Jerome, while a loan option or £8m move for Arsenal's Bendtner is possible.

The Potters will also complete the signing of midfielder Wilson Palacios from Spurs today.

Leicester boss Sven Goran Eriksson, having missed out on Bristol City's Nicky Maynard, has made a £6m offer for Rangers' Croatian forward Nikica Jelavic.

Should that fail, he will try to get Fulham boss Martin Jol to let him have Andy Johnson for £4m.