American Exports: Edu headed to Stoke to complete move

Maurice Edu, "With arrmmmmms wide open"

AMSTERDAM – Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu is on his way to Stoke City to complete a transfer move, MLSsoccer.com has learned.

Sources indicated to MLSsoccer.com that Edu had been monitored by Stoke for several weeks, moving up their shopping list after a loan deal for Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone fell apart. The Premier League club has made an offer of £300,000 (about $475,000), meeting a release-fee clause negotiated when the the 26-year-old California native accepted a large pay cut before Rangers was dissolved and reformed this past spring.

Heavily targeted when Rangers were dropped to the Scottish fourth flight as part of the penalty for their financial problems, Edu has already spurned the chance to join Bursaspor, Evian, Trabzonspor and Valenciennes this summer. He also received mild interest from the likes of Queens Park Rangers and Valencia during the transfer window.

Should Edu sign on with the Potters, he will join US teammate Geoff Cameron, who arrived from the Houston Dynamo a couple weeks back. Delayed by visa issues, the latter will be hoping for his EPL debut when Stoke hosts Arsenal on Sunday.