Sebastian Coates and Peter Coates aren't related, have never met and were born on different sides of the globe more than half a century apart. Yet the namesakes are prominent as the last-minute madness of the transfer window leads up to a return to Premier League action.
Sebastian Coates (pronounced Co-ar-tez) is a towering central defender from Montevideo's Club Nacional who, aged 20, was part of Uruguay's Copa America winning team in July. He has linked up with international teammate Luis Suarez at Liverpool in a GBP7 million (HK$87 million) deal but isn't likely to make his debut until later this month.
The Reds' transformation under Kenny Dalglish is near complete. And with the likes of Christian Poulsen, Paul Konchesky, Milan Jovanovic and, most recently, Raul Meireles, being moved on, just a couple of recruits signed under the ill-fated Roy Hodgson era remain.
Liverpool face Stoke City today with the visitors boasting a much stronger squad than before the international break two weeks ago, thanks to the generosity of Peter Coates, 73. Rather eerily, he shares the same name as Sebastian Coates' British father.
Stoke-born Coates, who is in his second spell as owner of the oldest top-flight club, has splashed out more than GBP20 million to bring in the Spurs duo of Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios plus former Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome.
This follows the close-season recruitment of England international defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson. Stoke, who are in only their fourth season in the premiership, are showing more ambition than some of the bigger clubs, including Everton and Newcastle United. And on top of their solid domestic start to the season, they are also doing well in Europe, advancing to the group stages of the Europa League.
It may sound like madness to compare Stoke to Liverpool, but the Potters could realistically be pushing the top six if manager Tony Pulis is able to blend the new arrivals quickly with the core of his hard-working squad.
