by Martin Spinks
martin.spinks@thesentinel.co.uk

SAMI Hyypia and Danny Higginbotham remain in the frame for Stoke boss Tony Pulis as he aims to add another centre-half to his squad before next Monday’s transfer deadline.

While Stoke are also being linked in the national press with Besiktas’ 26-year-old towering centre-half Gokhan Zan, one of Turkey’s stars during their Euro 2008 campaign.

Pulis is also desperate to strengthen various others sectors of his team before his hands are tied for the next four months by the closure of the summer transfer window.

Pulis has declined to comment on reports in Merseyside that he has already failed with one bid for Hyypia, but indications from Liverpool suggest the giant defender could now be allowed to leave. The 34 year-old Fin, a long-time favourite at Anfield after more than 400 appearances since 1999, would add steel and experience to the heart of City’s defence for at least 12 months were Pulis to succeed in luring him to the Potteries.

Higginbotham has remained a viable target all summer as Pulis contemplates re-signing the former City skipper just a year after a £3m deal wisked him off to Sunderland.

Any deal has long been delayed by Roy Keane’s failure to re-stock his defence over the summer, while the dramatic collapse of Stoke’s interest in Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop three weeks ago infuriated Sunderland so much that it appeared to jeopardise any further business between the two clubs.

But Sunderland are now hoping to sign West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand shortly, while a deal to sell Higginbotham to Wolves has already been agreed to suggest he is now surplus to long-term requirements at the Stadium Of Light.

Pulis has already stressed that Saturday’s milestone victory over Aston Villa cannot dilute the club’s efforts to strengthen various departments over the next week.

He will contemplate various changes at Cheltenham this evening for a second round Carling Cup tie that inevitably takes a back seat when sandwiched between two Premier League fixtures against Villa last Saturday and Middlesbrough seven days later.

Fringe players like Steve Simonsen, Andy Wilkinson, Danny Pugh and Vincent Pericard all come into contention, while Glenn Whelan, Mama Sidibe and Richard Cresswell will be on standby after being demoted to the bench at the weekend.

Tonight’s game will also offer Pulis the chance to throw a few players into the shop window after warning that familiar faces could be gone by the end of trading at midnight next Monday.