Regular Irish saviour and eternally sound man Jon Walters is officially on the move from Stoke City, as the Irish contingent at Stoke City continues to shrink. Shay Given has left the club, and Glenn Whelan is expected to follow suit.
Walters is leaving too, although he jumps ship from one strong Irish contingent to another: Burnley. The Clarets currently have Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Kevin Long, and Stephen Ward on their payroll, with the former two both record signings. To that roll of Irish internationals, they will soon add Walters, who is on the brink of sealing a £3 million deal at Turf Moor.
It is widely reported today that the move is more or less done, with Walters taking his leave of the club he has played with since 2010.
In that time, he has scored more Premier League goals for Stoke City than anyone else. (Most of them against Liverpool).
43 - Jonathan Walters has scored more @premierleague goals for Stoke City than any other player (43 in 226 apps). Departing. pic.twitter.com/wtsC99hUYc
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 5, 2017
Walters has scored seven goals against Liverpool (only Andy Cole and Thierry Henry have done so more often) and has netted against them in five of the past six seasons.
Almost certain Jon Walters is joining Burnley because he knows they host a tired Liverpool on New Year's Day.
— Kristian Walsh (@Kristian_Walsh) July 5, 2017
Walters heads to Burnley as Sean Dyche nudges closer to his (presumed?) dream to field an all-Irish XI. Now they need to swoop for Darren Randolph, a couple of defenders and midfielders, and a striker. They're halfway there!
