Liverpool Target Remy In England For Stoke Talks

Stoke City are in the box seat to land Loic Remy as the France striker heads to the Britannia Stadium for talks over a £12.5million from Nice. West Ham and Liverpool have both made bids but the highly-rated 23-year-old will fly into the Midlands today as the Potters look to flex their financial muscles. Having safeguarded their Barclays Premier League position over the past twoseasons, chairman Peter Coates now wants manager Tony Pulis to take the clubfurther forward and is willing to put forward whatever cash it takes to makeit happen. Jetting in: Nice striker Loic Remy will fly into England for talks over a possible move to Stoke City Pulis is desperate to add some firepower to his squad and having seen a £9m bid rejected for West Ham forward Carlton Cole, the Potters boss has pounced for the summer-long Hammers target instead. The east London club had been hoping to discuss terms with Remy who has also found an admirer in Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, who could yet re-enter the running. However it is reported that Nice turned down West Ham's offer because they wanted the full fee up front rather than installments and the French outfit did not favour an approach from Anfield which included an exchange for players they did not want. Lyon, who sold the star to Nice in 2008, have first refusal on Remy and Rennes are determined to make a move to keep the promising player in France. Cole fire: Stoke are also keen on West Ham star Carlton Cole But the player, capped once by his country, has stated he favours a switch to England. 'I am prepared to resume the season with Nice, even if I had hoped to be at a new club by now,' said Remy. 'I have made my preference clear and I still favour England.' With Remy potentially becoming the club's record signing, Stoke may return to West Ham with another bid for England international Cole. But Hammers co-chairman David Gold warned that they will not entertain any offers. In the frame: Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is another striker on Stoke boss Tony Pulis' wish-list He said: 'I'm fed up as a Hammers fan seeing us selling player afterplayer down the years. We are known as a selling club but this mustchange. 'We will now do everything to keep our best players.' West Ham could offer Nice an improved offer for Remy but it is understood they must raise funds first - and that could mean selling Cole.