Fulham are looking to strengthen their attack with the signing of Stoke’s giant hitman Kenwyne Jones.
With Andrew Johnson on the verge of a move to Blackburn, Cottagers’ boss Martin Jol is keen to add to his strikeforce and sees the Trinidadian as the perfect acquisition to a squad who have scored just seven goals away from home in the Premier League this season – the lowest in the division.
The 27-year-old has vast experience in England following previous spells at Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland, but Jol is ready to end the forward’s run of clubs beginning with S by taking him to the banks of the Thames for around £4m.
Jones has fallen behind Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters in the Stoke pecking order and has started only five of the club’s 21 Premier League games this season. With Cameron Jerome and Ricardo Fuller available as backup, his boss Tony Pulis is willing to sanction a deal for the right price.
The striker was a target of Jol’s as soon as the Dutchman took up the Fulham hotseat in the summer, and the Dutchman has now been pressed into acting on his interest following speculation that the likes of QPR, Aston Villa, former club Sunderland and Saudi side Al-Hilal were sniffing around the disaffected forward.
Jones would add height and power to a Fulham side who are slowly evolving under Jol, with the manager visualising the Trinidadian spearheading an attack which includes the lively Moussa Dembele and Bryan Ruiz.
The Trinidadian is known to be willing to try life in London for the first time in his career, and the offer of more first-team football could see him switch to Craven Cottage this month.