Stoke City boss Gary Rowett has hinted he's interested in Newcastle United midfielder Matt Ritchie.

Newcastle are not actively looking to sell Ritchie, who is an important member of Rafa Benitez's first-team squad.

However, their resolve could be tested by a sizeable offer from any of the interested clubs, with claims of a £15million bid from Stoke being in the pipeline.

“We've got a very varied target list out there and I've always said the same, when you're linked with players they are not always true... but often some of them are," Rowett told the Stoke Sentinel.

“We want the level of player we are being linked with. That's the type and the level of player we are trying to bring into the club. A lot of those players will be different styles, they won't all be the type of player.

“But there are players we think can come in and make a difference. We are working very hard to try to get some of the targets we have all agreed upon and ultimately it's like anything: I want them tomorrow and they [the board] want the best deals! We then work together to try to find the middle ground."