Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is ready to launch a bid for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones.

The Daily Mail says Pulis will hold a budget meeting with chairman Peter Coates next week when he will name his targets, with Jones top of his wish list.

He admitted: "There are one or two areas we need to strengthen. We've been looking for someone to control the midfield for us for a long time.

"Those players are difficult to get hold of, but we are looking. It's important we bring the right players in because we need the spirit the players here already have."

The key will be whether the ambitious Jones sees Stoke as a big enough club to move to. He knows Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez are fans but neither club have the money available to match Sunderland's valuation and their best option would be swap deals.