Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says there's no age limits to manager Mark Hughes' transfer plans.

The Potters appointed Mark Cartwright as technical director in December as part of a long-term plan to identity more value for money signings, particularly abroad.

Coates told The Sentinel: "When you are dealing in the transfer market and spending money, you do like the players to be the right age so they have a residual value. But that doesn't mean we are going to sign exclusively younger players.

"There is a certain age beyond which we are not comfortable buying because there will be no value afterwards, but it will be about getting the right balance because a team also needs experienced professionals."