Stoke City are "very close" to completing the signing of Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao, according to his agent Charles Collymore.

"As far as I am concerned Stoke are definitely the front-runners and, I think, very close," Collymore told the Sentinel."Salif is thinking about the offer and we fully expect there to be a positive answer.

"I know Tony Pulis wants to do it as soon as possible and there is willingness to do so on both sides.

"Salif had a fantastic season last year and Stoke have got off to a fantastic start this season and Salif wants to be part of that."