Stoke close to clinching Edu deal with Rangers

Stoke City are closing in on sealing the transfer from Glasgow Rangers of US midfielder Maurie Edu, with only his work papers standing in the way. Edu has been a long-standing target of Stoke manager Tony Pulis and last weekend agreed terms on a three-year deal. He then passed a medical. The final obstacle was his work permit and, with the club confirming on their official website this morning that the English football authorities have given that the all-clear to proceed with that, the move looks set to go through. Stoke have warned though that the 26-year-old is unlikely to be available for the weekend clash with Wigan owing to the time it would take to complete the paperwork.