Stoke City vs Chelsea FC - Stoke 'very close' to agreeing permanent deal for defender Bruno Martins Indi - 7M sport

Stoke City vs Chelsea FC - Stoke 'very close' to agreeing permanent deal for defender Bruno Martins Indi



Posted Saturday, March 18, 2017 by PA

Stoke are "very close" to agreeing a deal with Porto to sign on-loan defender Bruno Martins Indi permanently, manager Mark Hughes has confirmed.

The 25-year-old Holland international has made 27 appearances in all competitions for the Potters so far this season.

Martins Indi revealed this week that talks were taking place regarding a permanent move to the bet365 Stadium and in his Friday morning press conference ahead of the visit of Premier League leaders Chelsea, Hughes said the deal was edging closer.

"I think there's a will and a hope on all sides that we get it done," said Hughes.

"Bruno came in and played exceptionally well. He walked through the door and his level of performances have been really high in almost every game he's played.

"It's not easy when you come to a new country and a new level. He had to adapt very, very quickly, which he was able to do, and embraced everything we are about.

"I think we are very close, in fairness, and then Bruno will be settled and understand where he's going to be in the next few years."

Martins Indi's only goal for Stoke came against Saturday's opponents Chelsea in a 4-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge in December.

Hughes' team gave Chelsea a good game that day, twice hitting back to draw level after falling behind, and the former Blues striker feels Stoke can take encouragement from that - and the point they earned away at Manchester City nine days ago.

"We gave a decent account of ourselves down there and we obviously had a good performance last time out and so we'll refer back to that as we approach the weekend," said Hughes.

"I don't think many people expected us to get any sort of positive result at Manchester City but we were very solid and had a threat up front, so all in all we are in decent shape and good heart.

"Chelsea are playing exceptionally well at the moment, so it will be a tough ask, but I think we can draw encouragement from how we've performed in our last two games."

Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Wilfried Bony return to the squad, but Glen Johnson (shoulder) remains out.

Antonio Conte has hailed the "fantasy" Cesc Fabregas has brought to Chelsea's pursuit of the Premier League title.

The Spain international, 29, has surprisingly often been a substitute this season, despite consistently impressing and his undoubted influence when selected.

He has often appeared off the bench to change some of Chelsea's more difficult games after his manager's preference for the combined physicality of N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic.

His starting of their past two league fixtures also means he could again be selected for Saturday's game, but even with Eden Hazard, Kante and Diego Costa playing so well, Conte is adamant it is Fabregas who should not be overlooked.

Hazard's creativity and Pedro's movement have brought much to what has been such an impressive attack, but of the midfielder who has become to Chelsea what impact substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was to Sir Alex Ferguson's dominant Manchester United, Conte said: "Cesc gives you great quality, great fantasy and assists.

"It's important to manage the situation and understand when it's right, for example, to play with Cesc or with Matic. We are talking about two great players, with different characteristics. Nema is more physical, more technical, less fantasy than Cesc; Cesc has more fantasy but is less physical than Nema.

"He has always had a great impact, whether he starts a game or comes on. He always has a great impact. He's technically very good, and can put the ball where he wants. He's a great player. Often he's decisive with the pass, with the assist, and also to score a goal.

"This season, he has improved a lot in all aspects and, for me, he is a really, really important player."

Conte has two injury doubts for trip to the Britannia Stadium despite Victor Moses' return to training, but the manager would not reveal his two concerns.

"Victor Moses trained well (on Friday)," he said. "I think he's available but it's important to check a couple of situations and then make the best decisions (for selection on Saturday). I'd prefer to keep those to me."



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