Sonko Deal Close
Wednesday, 24th Aug 2011 15:37

Trialist Ibrahima Sonko is understood to be close to joining the Blues on a one-year deal having impressed in yesterday's behind-closed-doors reserves friendly against Colchester. TWTD was first to reveal that the 30-year-old Senegalese international was on trial at Portman Road.

The former Reading and Stoke man is set to become Town's ninth signing of the summer today or probably tomorrow and would appear certain to make his debut in Saturday's home game against Leeds.

Tweeting yesterday, Sonko felt he had put in a decent performance against the U's: “Game went well. Now I do not know what's going to happen, we can just wait and cross fingers that everyone [is] happy like I am.”

It was another of Sonko's tweets a fortnight ago which first revealed the possibility of him moving to Town: "It looks like I could meet with my friend Ãvar [Ingimarsson] again soon instead [of rejoining Reading].”

Born in Bignona, Senegal but having moved to France as a baby, Sonko began his career with Town’s old UEFA Cup foes St Etienne, moving on to Grenoble, where he made his first senior appearances, in 1999.

Three years later he joined Brentford, the 6ft 3in tall defender spending two seasons at Griffin Park before joining Reading on a Bosman in 2004.

Capped four times by Senegal, scoring one goal, Sonko, whose cousin is Arsenal's Bacary Sagna, became a cult hero at the Madejski Stadium and acquired the nickname ‘Superman’ for his exceptional leaping ability as he helped Steve Coppell’s side into the Premier League.

Stoke paid an initial £2 million for his services in August 2008 but his time at the Britannia Stadium was less successful. Loans at Hull City and Portsmouth followed, before he was released at the end of last season.

Sonko rejoined Reading on trial this summer and played in a number of pre-season games but talks broke down, with his old club only willing to offer a deal which equated to a 90% pay cut with the player only willing to take a drop of 75%.

Photo: Action Images

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blueherts added 16:05 - Aug 24

McAuley was better but not alot .. If we get Sonko still kennedy with him - he wont let you down - But we def need a RB urgently as well - Hull tested him out a plenty and everyone will now with a half decent left winger - I wonder if Carson , Creswell and Martin skin him in training as well - actually what do we do in training ?? I would love to go see cos it sure as hell aint working ..Please advise us Grant

fussysnake added 16:07 - Aug 24 friend of mine is a reading fan and seems pretty jelous that we might be signing him.. and aparently hes a legend according to my mate so sounds promising (although this was a while back)
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IP3 added 16:12 - Aug 24 Ahhhhh sh!t. Things just get worse. Where are all the mugs that thought we'd get promoted after the Bristol City.. At least 4 goals being shipped once again this Saturday then...
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Lightningboy added 16:13 - Aug 24 As long as he's not as bad as Manuel Thetis.
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nysully added 16:13 - Aug 24 I see that Reading just signed Kaspars Gorkss from QPR - surely we should have made a run at him, fee undisclosed, he got a 3Â½ year contract, was Clegg in for him, heard absolutely no mention of him.
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Tillz9 added 16:14 - Aug 24 Everyone says he is going to be bad based on other fans. Not being funny but when Pompey fans asked me about Norris I told them he was a hard worker but we wouldn't miss him. Not sure I could say the same now !! Not saying Sonko will be awesome but I think we should judge him on how he performs for us as opposed to what other fans say.
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TheDoctor added 16:15 - Aug 24 Could prove to be a good move. Wages will be pretty low and if it doesn't work out not a great deal has been lost. Sure PJ is hunting for long term solutions and Sonko may fill a gap in the short term and provide competition for places or injury cover later in the season.
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randomblue added 16:15 - Aug 24 Those slating him are the fans driving this club into the ground. Moan moan moan, whinge whinge whinge. Shut up - pipe up at the games - get behind the team - WHO EVER THAT MAY INCLUDE!
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steed added 16:15 - Aug 24 he couldnt play for portsmouth as they had seven loan players under football league rules you can only playat any one time so get your facts straight topps. Ans as usual the guy hasnt even kicked a ball and people are knocking him he cant be any worse than what we have as the club. So get behind him and welcome to protman road sonko
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TrumptonBlue added 16:17 - Aug 24

One of Sonko's first games for Reading was at Portman Road, I think — first I'd ever heard of him, anyway. I recall that he looked like a headless chicken but he somehow managed to get in the way of virtually everything, apparently by accident. He hammered the ball narrowly over his own bar at one point, iirc. I remember commenting saying to my wife during the game that I wasn't sure whether he was a liability or the best defender I'd ever seen. I think people are still making their minds up.

SpecialK79 added 16:18 - Aug 24 onwards and upwards COYB! don't forget PJ has told us theres a bid for another defending we're waiting on who isnt lowry from villa
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tomos91 added 16:19 - Aug 24 I really wish half of you would stop moaning about players we might be bringing in. We need a few squad players. If we don't sign sonko and ainsley gets injured what are we going to do put Peters at CB because we don't have any others. He's cheap, He's big and he fills a gap. If it is a One year contract. Bring him IN.
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NW10_Tractor added 16:19 - Aug 24 Sonko is a monster of a man. I can't imagine any player getting past him? Maybe his positional sense and choice of partner centreback may have brought his game down, but he is solid and tough in the tackle - and I am pleased we have an animal at the back for us! Tough Tackling Animal! Like it!
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PauloJulio added 16:21 - Aug 24 I agree Bwood Blue and i'm wondering whether it was Gorkss that PJ put the offer in for on Monday!
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blueherts added 16:22 - Aug 24 Thetis - great overhead kick vs WBA !!!
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SMS added 16:23 - Aug 24 And what was wrong with Kaspars Gorkss?? This is winding me right up!
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WorcesterBlue added 16:23 - Aug 24

I think a good signing who genuinely seems to want to come to PR so get it done TODAY! Trying not to be negative but I like many others appear to be am worried that PJ (and Keane before him) concluded that Delaney and Leadbitter were worth keeping rather than Mac and Norris?? Their limitations are clear for everyone to see. Likewise Edwards at right full back - he still doesn't seem to have gt the message!! Yes lets not boo Leadbitter but he's had so many chances in comparison with O'Connor, Peters, Carson and Drury and consistently failed to either create for us or to break up opposition play. In short - he isn't good enough!

Sign a quality centre back who can pass the ball (the Slovenians sound good), get David Wright back (excuse the pun), get Andrews in defensive midfield, sell Leadbitter NOW and loan out Smith and give Carson, Drury, Peters or O'Connor the chance to create for the strikers.

Topps added 16:24 - Aug 24

Not slating the guy. Just doing some research. I was at the Peterborough game and felt the pain. I just want to ensure that we are brining in quality rather than just more bodies. Sonko's track record at Stoke, then Hull, then Portsmouth (basically his last three clubs) was not very good. If you don;t believe me, do your own research and look at what their fans say about him. None of them were complaining about him leaving.

Whilst I desperatly want Sonko to be the answer to our defensive issues the evidence would suggest he's no better than Delaney or Smith (my god! I never thought I'd ever say that!!!) :-(

UsualSuspect added 16:25 - Aug 24 I will reserve my judgement until he's played a handfull of games and I am able to form an opinion, unlike some of you t*ats who think you know it all. Welcome aboard Superman, give all you have and I'm sure you'll win the whingers over.
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Tampa_Florida_Blue added 16:30 - Aug 24

I do not understand why you are complaining about him, based on what supporters of other clubs think about there ex player. Not so long back, Jon Walters could do nothing wrong for us. he fell out with Keane, and moved to Stoke.
As soon as JW signed for Stoke, people on here could say nothing good about him. In general, people soon forget about the good things you have done, but remembered the bad things. Jeezzzz, none of us are perfect, well except the moaners on here who wants the Man U, Man City, Chelsea players all to be playing for us, on a free transfer, and playing for no money.

Come on, get in the real world. Who else is around willing to come to ITFC that is better than Sonko?

Topps added 16:33 - Aug 24

Nice to see we've got to the stage of calling each other tw*ts now UsualSuspect. Nothing like a bit of in-fighting to bring the club closer to it knees. When will people like you realise that we ALL care about the club and we are ALL entitled to our opinions. We come on this website to provide our view good and bad. Whilst I don't like negativity I do respect others opinions.

Let's try and remember we all support the same side and we all want the same things. To get promoted and to see Norwich get relegated!

PSGBlue added 16:34 - Aug 24

Whether Sonko is any good or not, its a desperate signing to plug a defensive gap which should have been sorted out months ago. We still need a goalkeeper, RB, attacking & defensive midfield player and a striker, in order to make ourselves mid-table again. Welcome to the the club Sonko but ITFC are a complete shambles at present with further knee-jerk reactions yet to come! What was it PJ said, I want two players completing for every position on the pitch!

nitroblue1970 added 16:35 - Aug 24 Close to signing?....thought he was close to signing 2 weeks ago!...not sure if hes the long term answer but could do a job saturday against leeds, we could employ a few brickies to build a wall in front of the goals tho!....lets give sonka a go! COYB
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