Stoke City are closing in on a £5 million deal for West Ham United striker Dean Ashton.

The Daily Star Sunday says Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has decided to sell his injury-prone hitman, 25, after not getting the chance to see him in first-team action last season.

A succession of niggling injuries halted Ashton's long-term recovery from major knee surgery a year earlier.

But Stoke, who have been chasing the former Crewe forward all summer, are willing to give him the platform to revive his career.

Negotiations over the fee - which includes a sell-on clause - have been completed and Ashton is due at the Britannia Stadium in the next 48 hours to have a medical and discuss personal terms.

As long as that proves trouble free, Ashton will then be unveiled alongside Pulis' first close-season signing - £3m Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead.