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Search forStoke City player watch update: Second Reading raid for Premier Potters
13:18 - 17-July-2008
APPARENTLY Dave Kitson is not the only Reading player interesting Stoke boss Tony Pulis.
The Potters are one of several clubs tracking the Royals £3m-rated midfielder James Harper, according to the TEAMtalk.com website.
The terms of Harper's deal at the Madejski meant he was free to leave if Reading were relegated from the Premier League.
However, Royals boss Steve Coppell claims Harper is happy to stay put, despite reported interest from Bolton, Middlesbrough, West Ham and Stoke.
Coppell told the Reading Evening Post: “It was in his contract that he goes on the transfer list if we got relegated.
“He's on the transfer list – and if someone meets our valuation then I'll put it to him. But he's quite happy to stay here and play.
“He's spent a number of years at the club and, in a way, is excited about trying to get back in the Premier League.
“He just loves his football; he just wants to play week in, week out.
“He just says, 'If I'm going I'll go, and if I'm staying I'll stay' and you'll know you'll get 100 per cent. That's perfect with me.”
However, according to the Reading Chronicle, the Royals have laughed off rumours suggesting Stoke City are ready to make a £4.5m swoop for Kitson.
Kitson is attracting interest from several clubs, but Reading want at least £6m for him, which threatens to price him out of Stoke's reach.
THE Wanstead and Woodford Guardian today fleshed out rumours linking West Ham midfielder HAYDEN MULLINS with a move to Stoke.
It claimed Tony Pulis, “desperate to add some much-needed experience to his squad”, had put Mullins on his wanted list.
The 29-year-old has played almost 200 games for West Ham since joining from Crystal Palace in 2003.
AS predicted by your Sentinel two days ago, Blackburn boss Paul Ince has made a late bid to hijack Stoke's move for England goalkeeper Scott Carson.
According to today's Daily Mail, Ince has turned to the England international after losing Brad Friedel to Aston Villa.
Stoke and West Brom have both agreed a fee of between £3m and £4m with Liverpool for Carson, but frustrated Stoke boss Tony Pulis is ready to switch his sights to Sunderland's Martin Fulop instead. The Hungarian keeper would cost around £1.8m.
OTHER players linked with Stoke this summer include Spurs defender ANTHONY GARDNER, West Ham centre-half DANNY GABBIDON, Sunderland's DEAN WHITEHEAD, Barnsley's BRIAN HOWARD, Rangers duo LEE McCULLOCH and DANIEL COUSIN, Celtic's THOMAS GRAVESEN,Sheffield United's Crewe-born striker ROB HULSE, Ipswich Town forward JON WALTERS, Morocco striker BOUCHAIB EL-MOUBARKI and frontmen DAVID NUGENT, EMILE MPENZA and MARLON HAREWOOD.
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