Stoke City have opened talks with Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton.

Hutton was signed 12 months ago from Tottenham by Alex McLeish for £4m but has found it difficult to win over Villa supporters following his switch from north London, says the Daily Mail.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis used a number of players to cover the right-back spot at the Britannia Stadium last season with Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate deployed out of position.

Villa though are facing another significant loss on the player with the fee expected to reach no more than £2m.