Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says a loan move to Alaves for Bojan Krkic was the right decision.

Bojan will still have two years left on his current contract next summer and the price on his head could yet prove a stumbling block.

"What happens in the future will be one for the manager," said Coates, “and I am sure he won't have closed off his options.

“We all know what a wonderful half-year Bojan had before his terrible injury, it was something to remember, and we are all hoping he gets that kind of form back one day soon.

“With that in mind, he returned to Spain with all our best wishes."