Stoke City hope close a deal for Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu today.

The United States international has been a long-standing target of Potters boss Tony Pulis and last weekend agreed terms on a three-year deal and passed a medical.

The only hold-up was his work permit and, with the club confirming on their official website on Thursday morning that the Football Association have given approval for them to proceed with that, the move looks set to go through.

Stoke have cautioned, though, that the 26-year-old is unlikely to be available for the weekend clash with Wigan owing to the timescales involved.