Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is expected to block a move to China for defender Matthew Upson.

The Daily Mail says the England defender had opened talks with Shanghai Shenhua who signed former Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka last month.

But manager Tony Pulis seems set to keep Upson, 32, in the short term at least as Stoke are fighting to progress in three competitions and will be without Huth for three matches following his sending-off against Sunderland at the weekend.

Along with fixtures in the Barclays Premier League, Stoke face Valencia in the Europa League and a tricky FA Cup fifth-round tie against Crawley.

The Chinese club begin their season in three weeks and have described themselves as being 'in the midst of discussions' over the proposed move.