Bristol Rovers boss Darell Clarke hopes to sign Stoke City defender Ryan Sweeney next season.
The 20 year-old centre half played 16 games for Rovers in League One after joining on loan in January.
"Ryan Sweeney was absolutely outstanding," enthused Clarke, "and he is certainly one I will be looking at to hopefully be able to do if Stoke allow
"Ryan thoroughly enjoyed his time working for me and the football club - he wore his heart on his sleeve. He ran through brick walls for us. In one of the home games he got a massive gash in his eye after 10 or 15 minutes but carried on.
"There aren't many about like that. He's an old school centre half. It's about potentially investing in the team now, not on 29 or 30 year olds but young players like Joe Lumley or Ryan. It's that sort of calibre I'd like to bring in but these things are easier said than done."