The loan deal which would have seen David James move to Stoke on loan has failed. I personally thought it was a strange reason it failed but even stranger why the loan deal was trying to be arranged.
It apparently failed because of wage demands. Portsmouth wanted Stoke City to pay wages up to end of June but Stoke said would only pay his wages up to end of May. All for an extra £200,000 they could have got James. James contract expires at end of season but crucially, if he plays 20 games this season will automatically get a 1 year extension. That will cost Portsmouth even more money!
The reason I think the deal in the first place was an odd one is why would Stoke want James. They have already got a very good keeper in Sorenson who is the no.1 keeper for Denmark national team. (If they did sign James, I am sure Sorenson would have been on his way out or risk losing his national team place – just before the World Cup).
