by Martin Spinks
martin.spinks@thesentinel.co.uk

STOKE City are £250,000 richer after Ben Foster’s appearance in goal for England this week.

Foster’s first competitive international invoked a clause inserted into the multi-layered deal struck by Stoke when he joined Manchester United four years ago.

That original deal, which was for an initial £1m rising to a potential £3m, also entitles Stoke to a another £500,000 when Foster has played five competitive internationals... so roll on the World Cup finals.

Director of football John Rudge, who played a key role in the negotiations in the summer of 2005, also won further concessions from Old Trafford bosses. ’s tight grasp.

On top of a 30 per cent sell-on clause, he also persuaded United’s hierarchy to pay part with up to £1m if Foster is proves a success at Old Trafford.

That potential £1m would be made up of payments for every first-team appearance up to an undisclosed amount, plus further bonuses for Stoke for every major trophy United win (if providing Foster plays in 50 per cent of the relevant competition).

The shoe is on the other foot following Stoke’s latest foray into the transfer market, however, after they agreed several clauses in a deal that has secured them the rights over a 13 year-old prospect from Cheltenham Town.

Cheltenham say a modest up-front figure has been agreed between the clubs, but more serious money will eventually change hands should young Ben Markall, a midfielder-cum-striker, prove successful in years to come.

Markell spent just eight months with Cheltenham and was spotted by Stoke during a schools’ final held in Walsall.

“If he progresses as we hope,” said Ken Oram, Cheltenham’s Centre of Excellence manager, “the deal could look after Cheltenham for a few years to come.”

Meanwhile, Stoke boss Tony Pulis chaired a meeting of his scouts yesterday to update progress on various potential transfer targets worldwide.

Former assistant manager Dave Kemp, who is now running up air miles across North and South America, joined the meeting via a long-distance conference phone call from his beach-side mansion in California.

“Dave is working hard making lots and lots of contacts and watching lots of games,” said Pulis.

“He’s found it interesting. He’s been to Boca Juniors to watch how they work. He’s been to Argentina and Brazil, but also the outlying areas as well.”

Uruguayan midfielder Diego Arismendi, who joined in a £2.6m package seven weeks ago, is the first evidence of Stoke’s determination to spread their net more globally.

“He’s obviously a new project for the football club,” Pulis conceded.
“He’s settling in well.

“His girlfriend is coming over, he’ll be having driving lessons and we’re also keeping him away from Ricardo!”