Chelsea could yet secure Peter Crouch signing despite Paul Lambert insisting the 6ft 7 striker is not for sale

Stoke City manager Paul Lambert has told Chelsea that Peter Crouch is not for sale – but a deal for the striker could yet materialise.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is keen to sign a target man and, after a proposed move for West Ham’s Andy Carroll was scuppered by injury, the Italian has switched his attention elsewhere.

Chief among his targets is 6ft 7in forward Crouch, who turns 37 on January 30th and only signed a contract extension until 2019 with the Potters in November.

However, the veteran former England international is understood to be keen for the deal to happen. Crouch was a ball boy at Stamford Bridge as a youngster and comes from a family of Chelsea supporters.

Lambert held talks with Crouch this week and although his future was not discussed the Scot revealed his determination to hang on the player.

“I’ve no intention of letting him go,” Lambert said. “He’s got a great work ethic, knows the game really well and an absolutely fantastic professional the way he conducts himself. That alone to a club is huge.

“His game hasn’t changed since he was a young guy. He’s never going to run in behind - that’s not his game. But what he has got is an incredible presence. Lovely touch for a big guy. If there’s a nicer person in football I’ve yet to meet him.”

Crouch has scored goals in 22 appearances for Stoke this season but has only made eight starts in the Premier League having largely featured as a substitute and Stoke are standing firm following Chelsea’s initial enquiry about the player's availability last week.

But The Independent understands should the Blues make Stoke an offer too good to refuse, and Lambert is able to source a replacement, then Crouch will be allowed to leave.

Meanwhile, Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross has backed Lambert to prove wrong the sneering doubters that greeted his appointment.

The reaction to the Scot’s arrival was largely underwhelming and he was effectively Stoke's fourth-choice candidate after Derby boss Gary Rowett, Espanyol coach Quique Sanchez Flores and Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill all turned down the job.

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However, Lambert earned victory in his first game in charge of the Potters as they beat Huddersfield 2-0 at the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

“Our owners haven't achieved what they have in business without being very smart and knowing what they are doing,” Shawcross said. “If you look back, Tony Pulis probably wasn't the fans' first choice when he arrived and Mark Hughes definitely wasn't – but if you asked the fans, they would probably want Pep Guardiola, but he wasn't available.

“It's up to the bosses to decide on the best man, and obviously Paul Lambert gave a fantastic interview and we've seen this week what a great manager he is.

“People look at his track record and say it was tarnished by what happened at Villa, just as Mark Hughes' record was tarnished by his time at QPR, but sometimes managers need to be given chances.

“Hopefully Paul will snatch his chance and it looks like he's going to do that. He's got fire in his belly, he wants to do well and there's no way he's going to let this team slip.”