Stoke must up wages to buy Crouch

Stoke City will have to match Peter Crouch's £80,000-a-week wages to have any hope of signing the England striker from Tottenham.

Despite reports that Crouch had signed for Stoke yesterday, the player has had no firm offer from the club even though there has been contact between Spurs and Stoke. Crouch has two years left on his deal and would be looking for a four-year contract at his current rate if he was even to consider a move.

Stoke can offer Crouch about £50,000 a week which will not be enough to get him to the table. They are closer to a deal for Wilson Palacios, the Spurs midfielder. The Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, is thought to be offering the pair for £20m.