Transfer deadline day 2015 was all about big Jon Walters despite the Sky Sports News cameras being camped outside the Manchester United training ground waiting for a signing that was never going to happen.
The Stoke and Ireland striker handed in a transfer request after Stoke refused to commit to a long term deal with Walters seeking to know where his future lied, and although a deal never came to fruition at the end of that transfer window, contract talks have remained ongoing in the months since.
However, Stoke boss Mark Hughes today revealed that contract talks have again stalled, and admitted that Walter's exceptional form means that it will be difficult for the club to hold on to him:
It's not what I want or what Jon wants. I do believe there's still scope to return to the table - I hope there is. It's not anything to do with his ability, or how much he's valued. He is thought of very highly here.
It's the length of contract that is the issue. He's playing exceptionally well. So hopefully we can sort something because he wants security, and to know where he's playing his football.
I'm hopeful we can reach a point again where there is some common ground.
So it's clear that Hughes wants to keep big Jon around, and why wouldn't he? His fantastic goal against Chelsea aside, Walters has been a very useful player for The Potters.
The difficulty comes with Walters being 32 years of age. Stoke are reluctant to offer him the security he wants, so understandably Walters may be looking for a club that will.
We feel that Stoke should just get him signed up. His game has never been based on pace, so will a 34 year old Jon Walters really be that much less effective than a 32 year old Jon Walters?
If Walters and Whelan were to leave Stoke then a shell of a club would be left. Do the right thing Hughesy.
via Sky Sports News.
