Stoke see Olsson as solution to left back problem

Stoke City are set to reignite their interest in Blackburn Rovers` Martin Olsson.

Manager Tony Pulis was heavily linked with the Swedish international in the summer, but no move was made for the left back.

After regular left back Marc Wilson has broken his left fibula and is out for up to three months, Stoke are left short of options in the position.

Stoke chairman Peter Coates has confirmed that he will fund any move for a replacement left back in the New Year.

Coates told The Sentinel: ‘I don’t think you get value for money in the January window myself.

‘But if we need a left-back and haven’t managed that situation as well as we can, then we will have to do something about it in January.

‘It’s something we will have to assess at the time, but it’s something we can look at if we have to, whether it be a loan or something more permanent.’

The left back position has been a regular problem for Stoke since promotion to the Premiership, with a number of players including Wilson having to play out of position at full back.

Pulis tried to amend this but missed out on several full backs in the summer. The Welsh supreme had Polish Sebastien Boenisch on trial but that turned out to be unsuccessful. He also looked to bring in Macedonian Goran Popov on loan before he chose to make a move to Midland`s rivals West Brom.

It is still yet to be confirmed whether whoever will be the new man at the helm of Ewood Park will allow the 24-year-old, who can also play on the left wing to leave the Lancashire outfit.