Stoke boss Tony pulis plots Birmingham raid

Posted Monday, June 27, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk

Stoke boss Tony pulis plots Birmingham raid
ABOVE: Stoke will bid for Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome as well as defender Scott Dann

TONY PULIS has kicked off his recruitment drive with an £8m joint bid for Birmingham stars Scott Dann and Cameron Jerome.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is ready to test Birmingham’s resolve to keep their players after relegation with a cheeky opening offer for the pair.

The Blues are expected to reject the bid for defender Scott Dann and striker Cameron Jerome but Stoke are certain to try again for the 24-year-olds.

The Potters’ bid was an £8m down payment loaded with incentives, with the fee rising if Dann or Jerome ever earn international recognition or help Stoke into the Premier League top six.

But Birmingham rate Dann – also a target for Arsenal and Liverpool – at around £12m and Stoke’s opening gambit is certain to be snubbed.

Stoke are determined to land quality additions this summer as they prepare for their first campaign in the Europa League – with the opening game only a month away.

Chairman Peter Coates admitted: “We have plenty of irons in the fire and we have our eyes on a number of targets.

“We are trying to work below the radar and bring in some players over the next few weeks.”

Several top flight clubs are interested in the Birmin-gham pair but new boss Chris Hughton would prefer both remain at St Andrew’s to give him the best possible chance to guide the club to an instant return to the Premier League.

But relegation has also brought with it the need to cut costs and Dann would command the most money, which the club would then be able to re-invest in new players.