Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has denied making a bid for Town skipper Jon Walters. The Potters boss is a long-time admirer of Walters and was understood to have made an offer for the 26-year-old midfielder or frontman.

Pulis, who was reported to have offered £4 million for the ex-Chester man, also dismissed claims that he has made bids for West Ham midfielder Mark Noble, a former Town loanee, and Jermaine Pennant, who is currently with Real Zaragoza: “I haven’t spoken to any of those clubs.”

Peter Reid, Pulis’s assistant manager, was at Portman Road on the final day of the season with Walters understood to be the object of his interest, having been at St James' Park for the Newcastle match the previous week.

Stoke were initially linked with moves for Walters in the summer of 2008 when they made an enquiry but contrary to reports at the time never made a bid.

Photo: Action Images

superblueflude added 09:26 - May 18 Great stuck with Walters for another season
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hype313 added 09:33 - May 18 Thats a shame, 4m would be a nice addition to the coffers, and bring in hooper, Hang on this job is easy! I'll do it Marcus for 40k plus benefits..
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hampstead_blue added 10:03 - May 18 let him go.....he's all 'huff, puff, and no end product'
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Wallingford_Boy added 10:05 - May 18 Agreed, tries hard but has no real quality.... £4m is obviously pie-in-the-sky, but if we get a £2m+ bid, rip their hands off!!
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Dorsetblue added 10:06 - May 18 I would keep him, he never gives up and runs round all the time, not like some of the squad. But you could see that last season he needed a rest. Keane over used him and he needed a couple of games out for a rest.
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Wallingford_Boy added 10:18 - May 18 "A rest"?! He's a pro sportsman, its not like we were playing 70 games a season.
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bennyblue added 10:19 - May 18 wouldnt trust that tony pulis never tells the truth cheats at cards i reckon hes gonna put a secret bid in for keane and frankly i reckon we should take it sell im while hes at the world cup i reckon we could get one of those fancy foriegn managers who talks italian or dutch or something one of those blokes witha sharp suit and who smokes 50 a day and runs up and down the touchline shouting at the ref yes indeed thats what we need a wine drinking pizza eating sports car driving egotist from europe thated get us out of this mess quick sharp if you see that tony pulis buy him a beer for me but check you got youre wallet when you leave

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ITFC_Forever added 11:03 - May 18 £4m? £4 more like. I'll drive him there myself.
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Jewell_do added 11:15 - May 18 You have to feel sorry for Walters. Remember he has had 2 clowns to work for. One switched him to the LM when he was player of the season at RM and another that despite being completely off form and fudged played him week in week out. Walters has had 6 months at ITFC where he was unstoppable, but he is a shadow of that player now. He is a league one player. Worrying thing is the genius we have in charge now is likely to reject say a £2m bid as Walters was "AMAZING" last season. I fear for ITFC.

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Jay added 11:41 - May 18 YAYYY!!! I for one, am really glad he is staying! I do NOT want another season of releasing our best players, bringing in mediocre rubbish and spending until November waiting for the team to (YAWWNN) "gel". Plus on a personal level - mmm another season of staring at that amazing arse...
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mripswichtown added 11:56 - May 18 I have noticed from a few that of a player has a bad season they want him out but as soon as they are doing well they want to keep him, if you support a team you have to get behind the players instead of picking faults with them, yes hes been under par this season but remember how good he was when we first signed him, there were loads of people saying how good he is! well thats my opinion anyway

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corshamblue added 12:31 - May 18 Come on guys, don't be too harsh. He didn't have the best of seasons but he's been a good player for us, lets not forget that. £2m However would be a decent price and if it funded the likes of Hooper [someone to take us forward] then so be it. Let's not stoop to 'He's Cr**' and I'll drive him there myself . . . That's pathetic A price that is over the Clubs valuation has to be looked at, it's a business after all is said and told. Replacement costs and availability will also factor in. Lets support the Players we do have, and think before we Post!

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Tillz9 added 12:39 - May 18 I agree he did not have his best season. That said he still fnished with 8 goals and worked his socks off everytime he played. I for one can live with players that go through a dip in form as long as they still put the effort in. I hope he stays and returns to form.
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stinkiusminkius added 13:10 - May 18 Hey, I actually partially agree with keane on this one and would keep Walters. On the anti-keane side, I think he seriously overused him and should have rotated him out (like he did with most of our wingers/forwards) to recharge the batteries. But an even more worrying indicator is how keane clearly rates players based purely on their effort, and not on their skill or what they bring to the team.

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copamundial added 13:50 - May 18 Damn!!!!!!
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sereneblue added 17:35 - May 18 Bennyblue, have you ever thought seriously about getting an education?
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jas0999 added 18:11 - May 18 Shame. Personally I believe it would be good for the club AND Walters if he moves on. It's been said a thousand times, but you can't fault his work rate, although I have been far from impressed with him this season.
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Brogansconk added 18:42 - May 18 Form is temporary, class is permanent. Walters is the classiest player we have had (exc Gio) in the last 3 years. His form has suffered, that's all.
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brogansnose added 19:03 - May 18 True, he hasnt had the best of seasons but no one is going to look too good with the ball lumped up to him and then left to get on with it on his own with no support or link up play which at times was the only "creative" tactic used.Too much pressure on one bloke, plus he clearly should have had some sort of rest when he was picking up those injuries. Mind you 4 million ( which i really can't see ) is very tempting.

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