Stein the target

“Stein is one of many strikers out there and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is one of the players John (Hollins) is looking at,” hinted Swansea chairman Steve Hamer. “But John keeps his cards close to his chest and nothing is likely to happen until he returns from holiday. “There is no doubt that Stein is a player of proven pedigree and any manager would be interested in someone with his goalscoring record. Unfortunately, they are not always easy to get.” Stein, brother of Luton’s former England international Brian, is an experienced striker who originally joined Bournemouth on loan from Chelsea in March 1998. He signed permanently the following campaign, scoring 15 League goals in 43 games before following that up last season as top scorer with 11, despite missing the last two months with a knee injury. A clinical finisher, his overall game is instinctive of a player who has played at the top level with Luton, QPR, Oxford, Stoke and Chelsea. The South African-born England Youth international is currently out of contract at Bournemouth and manager Mel Machin looks prepared to let him go after snapping up 19-year-old Coventry striker Chukki Eirbenne on a three-year contract. Exeter manager Noel Blake, who played with Stein at Stoke, has also spoken to the striker who has scored 191 goals in 524 League and cup appearances. Hollins is keen to sign a front-man with a proven goalscoring pedigree after Swansea’s championship-winning side struggled in-front of goal last season. Joint-top scorers Walter Boyd and Steve Watkin both finished the campaign with just seven League goals, a total matched by midfielder Nick Cusack,while Julian Alsop chipped in with just three.