Norwich boss Glenn Roeder has admitted his frustration in missing out on signing Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi - but revealed the fee Stoke have paid "is incredible".

Roeder managed Ameobi during his spell at St James' Park and was keen to land his services for City but missed out to the Potters.

He said: "I would have liked Shola here but I was consistently told by Sam Allardyce and then Kevin Keegan that he would not be let out on loan and that he had a future at Newcastle.

"We were always promised a phone call if and when that changed and I found out at seven o'clock on Thursday morning that he was travelling down to Stoke to tie up a loan deal until the end of the season.

"I spoke to Dennis Wise at length and if he is telling me the truth the amount of loan fee that Stoke have paid is incredible.

"I have personally never heard of a higher fee for such a short period of time. Obviously Stoke are gambling that Shola can shoot them up into the Premier League automatically."