Stoke City and Sheffield United are emerging as contenders for Phil Jagielka.

The veteran England defender announced he is leaving the Goodison Park club after 12 years.

He is now a free agent, with Stoke and his old club believing they can do a deal to bring him to the Championship.

The news comes from the Daily Mail, which suggests Jagielka may be up for a move to a lower league side that has its sights on getting into the Premier League.

Jagielka managed 40 caps for England in his career and has already played 300 times for Sheffield United before he moved to Everton in 2007.