With another selection of transfer rumours doing the rounds of the national media, the big news today is of a long-term Stoke target who may no longer be on his way to the Brit after all ...

STOKE'S hopes of signing ANTHONY GARDNER may have been dealt a fatal blow by the news that Hull City have agreed a fee with Spurs for the Stafford-born defender.

According to the Daily Mirror, Stoke's fellow Premier League newcomers are ready to pay £2.5m for Gardner, a former Port Vale trainee sold to Spurs for £1m in 2000.

The Mirror claims Stoke made a loan-and-cash bid for Gardner, but Spurs, keen to raise the £17m they need to sign Blackburn's England winger David Bentley, rejected the offer.

THE news that Teemu Tainio last night completed his move to Sunderland may be good news for Stoke, according to The Guardian.

The arrival of the Finnish defensive midfielder at the Stadium of Light could free Dean Whitehead for a move from Wearside to the Potteries.

However, 26-year-old midfielder Whitehead has previously played down reports he was on his way to the Britannia in a £3m deal.

STOKE have reportedly joined in the race to snap up Blackburn star Aaron Mokoena – South Africa's most-capped player.

Sky Sports News reckons 27-year-old Mokoena, who can play in midfield or defence, wants regular first-team football ... and is now waiting to see if he figures in the plans of new Rovers boss Paul Ince.

Stoke, they say, have registered a tentative interest, with Manchester City, Rangers, Ajax and Schalke also said to be keen on the Rovers player.

OTHER players linked with Stoke this summer include West Ham centre-half DANNY GABBIDON, Barnsley's BRIAN HOWARD, Glasgow Rangers duo LEE McCULLOCH and DANIEL COUSIN, Celtic's THOMAS GRAVESEN, Ipswich Town forward JON WALTERS, Morocco striker BOUCHAIB EL-MOUBARKI and Premier League frontmen DAVID NUGENT (Portsmouth), EMILE MPENZA (ex-Man City) and MARLON HAREWOOD (West Ham).