Have Stoke given up on Fulop?

Reports are linking the Potters with Liverpool keeper, Scott Carson after Sunderland continue to refuse advances for Marton Fulop.

The Black Cats have already turned down a bid of £1.7m for the Hungarian international and Fulop has been reported as saying that he would like the chance of a move to the Brit and hoped a deal could be agreed quickly.

Carson was on loan at Aston Villa throughout last season and had been hoping for a permanent move to Villa Park, but any chance of a deal appears to have been scuppered by the Gareth Barry saga which has soured relationships between the two clubs.

Liverpool have been demanding £10m for the England keeper which is slightly out of Stoke’s budget, but some consider that valuation was to stop him going to Villa and that they may consider a lower fee or another season long loan to the right club.

Whether this latest news, if true, is an attempt to either force Sunderland to make their minds up, Plan B or a combination of both remains to be seen.