West Ham United striker Carlton Cole is ready to pull the plug on negotiations with Stoke City.
The Mirror says Cole is ready to snub talks with Stoke after their chairman questioned his injury record on TV.
Peter Coates' comments have angered the England marksman and are now threatening Tony Pulis' bid to bring Cole to the Britannia Stadium.
A source close to the £4.5million deal said last night: "Carlton has a lot of respect for Tony Pulis. But he hasn't asked to leave West Ham.
"And seeing the Stoke chairman talking on Sky Sports about his fitness upset him."
