Stoke City are in the box seat to land Loic Remy as the France
striker heads to the Britannia Stadium for talks over a
£12.5million from Nice.
West Ham and Liverpool have both made bids but the highly-rated
23-year-old will fly into the Midlands today as the Potters look to
flex their financial muscles.
Having safeguarded their Barclays Premier League position over
the past two seasons, chairman Peter Coates now wants manager Tony
Pulis to take the club further forward and is willing to put
forward whatever cash it takes to make it happen.
Jetting in: Nice striker Loic Remy will fly into
England for talks over a possible move to Stoke City
Pulis is desperate to add some firepower to his squad and having
seen a £9m bid rejected for West Ham forward Carlton Cole, the
Potters boss has pounced for the summer-long Hammers target
instead.
The east London club had been hoping to discuss terms with Remy
who has also found an admirer in Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, who
could yet re-enter the running.
However it is reported that Nice turned down West Ham's offer
because they wanted the full fee up front rather than installments
and the French outfit did not favour an approach from Anfield which
included an exchange for players they did not want.
Lyon, who sold the star to Nice in 2008, have first refusal on
Remy and Rennes are determined to make a move to keep the promising
player in France.
Cole fire: Stoke are also keen on West Ham star
Carlton Cole
But the player, capped once by his country, has stated he
favours a switch to England.
'I am prepared to resume the season with Nice, even if I had
hoped to be at a new club by now,' said Remy.
'I have made my preference clear and I still favour
England.'
With Remy potentially becoming the club's record signing, Stoke
may return to West Ham with another bid for England international
Cole.
But Hammers co-chairman David Gold warned that they will not
entertain any offers.
In the frame: Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko
is another striker on Stoke boss Tony Pulis' wish-list
He said: 'I'm fed up as a Hammers fan seeing us selling player
after player down the years. We are known as a selling club but
this must change.
'We will now do everything to keep our best players.'
West Ham could offer Nice an improved offer for Remy but it is
understood they must raise funds first - and that could mean
selling Cole.
Stoke have also enquired about Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko
and Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones but received little encouragement
from either party.
