Stoke try to find buyer for bad-boy Saido Berahino after drink drive arrest
Following The Sun's exclusive on the striker's arrest over the weekend, Stoke are now said to be considering how to offload Berahino from their payroll
STOKE CITY'S patience with Saido Berahino has run out after the striker was arrested on suspicion of drink driving in London over the weekend.
The Sun reported on Monday that Berahino was involved in an incident outside 24-hour restaurant and bar VQin Bloomsbury, where he was arrested while claiming he was trying to escape thugs who stole his watch.
However, the reports that Stoke are not willing to believe the story of a player they signed for £12million in 2017.
Berahino faces a fine of two weeks' wages for the incident, worth around £80,000, with the club also irked by the fact he was due to appear for Stoke Under-23s in a game against Manchester United on Monday night.
The exclusive VQ restaurant is a popular spot for post-night out food and drink, and the striker was seen entering with a man and two women before the 3am scuffle unfolded.
An eyewitness who was dining in the venue at the time told The Sun: "I saw him leave the restaurant and then all of a sudden there was shouting and yelling and stuff by the doorway.
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"He was scuffling with some boys, I think they had just got out a car. It was all of a sudden and because we were inside we couldn't really see what it was all about.
"The next thing he ran over to a black Range Rover, got in and drove off quickly.
"It was the early hours of the morning and he looked like he had been out partying."
Berahino was taken into custody having been quickly stopped by police in nearby Bedford Square.
He was driving a matte black Range Rover at the time, a car that sits alongside a white Mercedes AMG-GT Coupe in his collection.
Previously, Berahino had pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge in 2015, leading to the former England youth international being been banned from the wheel.
Not since December has he scored for the Potters, who are finding it difficult to ignite a promotion charge under new boss Nathan Jones.
Their winless run was extended to five games on Saturday when they conceded a late equaliser to bottom club Ipswich.
Fellow strikers Mame Biram Diouf, Bojan Krkic, Benik Afobe and new signing Sam Vokes have struggled to score regular goals.