Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is excited by the prospect of building a Premiership-ready squad.

He told The Sentinel: "There are plenty of players out there wanting to move from their present clubs, but picking the right ones is the task ahead of us now.

"We can't afford to leave any stone unturned. Whether we are looking at Premier League players, Championship players, foreign players or players on a season-long loan, we shall be in there competing for those who genuinely interest us.

"You obviously need players of sufficient quality first and foremost, but within that umbrella you need the right blend of youth and experience, athleticism and ability.

"No-one is pretending it's going to be easy, but I can't wait. It's the kind of challenge any manager would relish."