Aston Villa strike pair Carlton Cole and Emile Heskey are being targeted by Stoke City suggest recent reports.

It is believed that the Potters are weighing up a £12million move for Cole which would be a club-record fee whilst Heskey would come at a cost of £2million.

Stoke chairman Peter Coates said that the club would not just be throwing money on any type of deal.

"The deals have to be acceptable," he said.