Auxerre's poker-loving defender Cedric Hengbart is a Premier League target.
The Daily Star says Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and QPR are raising the stakes to sign Hengbart.
The right-back and Texas hold 'em shark is due to fly to Las Vegas to compete in this month's World Series of Poker.
Cedric Hengbart, 30, said: "I have contacts in England. Stoke and Blackburn are the most serious ones and there's also QPR to a slightly lesser degree."
And the £1.5m-rated defender added: "Werder Bremen and Hannover have also been in touch.
"But Germany is my third priority behind England and France."
