Premier League

Article

Stoke linked with Baptiste swoop

13 January 2013 09:27

Stoke City have been reportedly monitoring the progress of Blackpool's Alex Baptiste ahead of a possible transfer bid in January.

Tony Pulis's Stoke went down 4-0 at home against Chelsea on Saturday, but had previously only conceded seven goals at the Britannia Stadium all season.

The prospect of signing Baptiste presents a good opportunity to bring in one of the best defenders outside the Premier League at good value.

Baptiste will be a free agent at the end of the season and as of December had not begun talks about a new deal at Bloomfield Road.

Baptiste was picked up for 5,000 pounds from Mansfield Town in 2008 and has become indispensable to the club after making more than 150 appearances since then.

Meanwhile, Blackpool are reportedly close to naming former Nottingham Forest boss Sean O'Driscoll as their new manager, and it could be announced this week.

Info

Stoke City

D L D W W

0 - 4

Chelsea

L L W W W

Competition: Premier League
Date: 12 January 2013
Game week: 22
Kick-off: 16:00

Half-time: 0 - 1
Full-time: 0 - 4

Venue: Britannia Stadium (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Attendance: 27348

Goals

	0 - 1	45'+1 J. Walters (OG)
	0 - 2	63' J. Walters (OG)
	0 - 3	65' F. Lampard (PG)
	0 - 4	73' E. Hazard (assist by Mata)

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	A. Begović
4	R. Huth
28	A. Wilkinson	39'
17	R. Shawcross
2	G. Cameron
16	C. Adam
26	M. Etherington
6	G. Whelan
15	S. N'Zonzi
9	K. Jones
19	J. Walters	45+1' 63' 90'
Coach: T. Pulis

#	Player	Bookings
1	P. Čech
3	A. Cole
2	B. Ivanović
4	David Luiz
28	Azpilicueta
34	R. Bertrand
8	F. Lampard	65'
7	Ramires
17	E. Hazard	73'
29	D. Ba
10	Mata
Coach: Rafael Benítez

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
18	D. Whitehead for C. Adam 79'
33	C. Jerome for K. Jones 79'
21	M. Kightly for M. Etherington 86'
20	M. Upson
25	P. Crouch
29	T. Sørensen
30	R. Shotton

#	Player	Bookings
9	Fernando Torres for D. Ba 71'
26	J. Terry for Mata 80'
19	Paulo Ferreira for Azpilicueta 83'
11	Oscar
21	M. Marin
22	R. Turnbull
57	N. Aké

Tuesday 18 June

13:08	Maher agent denies Ajax deal
13:05	Newcastle confirm Kinnear appointment
12:49	Taylor ´really happy´ with Kinnear return
12:44	Australia 1-0 Iraq: Kennedy books Brazil place
12:25	Clarke happy with Reid commitment
12:03	Bittencourt signs for Hannover
11:22	Van Dijk keen on Celtic move
11:15	De Gea sets the bar high
10:58	Confederations Cup Preview: Nigeria v Uruguay
10:58	Bacuna keen to get going at Villa
10:47	Hamburg a possibility for Santa Cruz
10:29	Rebelo: Protests will not harm Confederations Cup
10:27	Kinnear: We need another striker
07:48	Brazil-Mexico Preview: Selecao gunning for semi-final berth
03:41	Valcke: Brazil better for football tournaments
01:38	Tahiti trump Nigeria in celebration stakes

Monday 17 June

23:55	FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: Italy v Japan
23:12	FIFA Confederations Cup: Nigeria 6 Tahiti 1
21:13	Borini´s Napoli move unlikely
21:09	Remon: Zidane not ready for Real job
20:39	Elyounoussi says yes to Hoffenheim
20:37	Mignolet agent anticipating bids
20:35	Schalke signs Clemens
20:00	Italy-Japan Preview: Azzurri aiming to move closer to last four with victory
19:36	Sidwell looking for settled squad at Fulham
19:20	Hearts set to enter administration
19:16	Martinez hoping to bring ´characters´ to Everton
18:53	Scholes sad to see Robinson leave Stoke
18:36	Bayern, Barca in hunt for Koscielny
18:35	Toulouse deny Lyon approach for Tabanou
17:59	Vitoria pleased with ´dream´ Benfica move
17:43	Poyet refuses to attend hearing
17:33	UEFA Under 21 Championship Final Preview: Italy v Spain
17:23	Van Dijk attracting foreign interest
17:17	FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: Brazil v Mexico
16:54	Brentford confirm signing of Bidwell from Everton
16:20	Lambert says Lowton can still improve
16:14	Owen not ready to become a manager
16:11	Rangel praises Michu impact
15:52	Gundogan pledges future to Dortmund
15:45	Tevez refuses to be drawn on speculation
15:32	Mourinho: Chelsea need stability
14:33	Reid remains at West Brom after agreeing new deal
13:22	Tahiti 1-6 Nigeria: Oduamadi hits hat-trick as Super Eagles smash South Pacific islanders
13:11	Dortmund confirm Lewandowski stay
12:57	Hull sign Figueroa
12:55	Colombia Primera Division Wrap: Santa Fe held as Pasto, Millonarios win
11:59	Liverpool appoint new chief financial officer
11:47	Isco reveals offers from Real and City
11:09	Bradford to start Capital One Cup campaign at Huddersfield
10:09	Kinnear: Cabaye will stay at Newcastle
07:20	Peru Primera Division Wrap: Cesar Vallejo up to fourth
07:19	Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Nacional Asuncion beaten after securing title
06:47	Argentina Primera Division Wrap: Blanco brace fires Lanus
03:53	Ecuador Primera A Wrap: Independiente held despite Guerrero stunner
03:07	Del Bosque satisfied with Spain´s Cup opener
01:53	FIFA Confederations Cup: Spain 2 Uruguay 1
01:39	Prandelli undeterred by plucky Mexico
00:17	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: Ethopia, Egypt top groups

Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester United	38	+43	89
2	Manchester City	38	+32	78
3	Chelsea	38	+36	75
4	Arsenal	38	+35	73
5	Tottenham Hotspur	38	+20	72
6	Everton	38	+15	63
7	Liverpool	38	+28	61
8	West Bromwich …	38	-4	49
9	Swansea City	38	-4	46
10	West Ham United	38	-8	46
11	Norwich City	38	-17	44
12	Fulham	38	-10	43
13	Stoke City	38	-11	42
14	Southampton	38	-11	41
15	Aston Villa	38	-22	41
16	Newcastle United	38	-23	41
17	Sunderland	38	-13	39
18	Wigan Athletic	38	-26	36
19	Reading	38	-30	28
20	Queens Park Ra…	38	-30	25

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