Stoke City have moved for Portsmouth goalkeeper David James.

The Daily Mail says James is trying to secure a loan move to Stoke City in a bid to escape a ludicrous situation at Portsmouth that could cost him his World Cup place.

The England goalkeeper has been fit to play Pompey's last two games after recovering from a calf injury but the crisis-hit club are now in a position where they cannot afford to let manager Avram Grant select him.

According to sources at Fratton Park, a clause in the 39-year-old's contract means he is just nine or 10 games away from an automatic one-year extension.