Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STOKE’S CHANCE TO GET LINDELOF ...FOR £200,000
STOKE CITY missed out on a £30million-plus windfall when they ignored Victor Lindelof.
Now the Sweden ace, 22, is set to become an identikit Jose Mourinho centre-half after joining Manchester United from Benfica.
That is the view of the man who tried to persuade the Potters to take a chance on the teenage defender for just £200,000 five years ago.
But the Potters allowed Lindelof to slip through their fingers.
Craig Honeyman, the agent who tried to push through the deal, said: “Victor is such a wellrounded guy – I can’t see this move fazing him for one minute. But Stoke must be kicking themselves they let him slip through the net.
“He’d made his debut in first-team football with Vasteras SK in Sweden when he was just 16.
“Stoke agreed to take a look and played him in a couple of matches.
“I pleaded with the club to allow Tony Pulis to have a look at him for just one day in training with the first-team before making a decision. They didn’t bother.
“And they would have been able to take him for £200,000 as compensation.”
Honeyman added: “Victor has no airs or graces. He’s a Mourinho type of player – 100 per cent. He’s a big, athletic, solid defensive player.”