Tony Pulis in no hurry to strengthen Stoke City squad ahead of Europa League campaign

Tony Pulis – Stoke City, (Getty Images)

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Tony Pulis says he will not be rushed into signing new players just to have them available for the start of Stoke City‘s Europa League campaign.

On July 28, just 16 days before they kick off their Premier League season at home to Chelsea, Stoke will begin their European campaign, having qualified via the FA Cup.

The Potters will learn the identity of their opponents when the draw is made on July 15, and the match will mark Stoke’s first inclusion in a major European competition since 1974.

Pulis is said to have made a number of offers for players, especially from relegated clubs Birmingham and West Ham, with Carlton Cole, Scott Dann and Cameron Jerome all said to be on the Stoke manager’s wish list.

But Pulis has said he is prepared to wait until later on in the transfer window if it means signing the right players.

“It is always more important to get the right deals,” Pulis told The Sentinel.

“We sometimes get criticised for not doing business early enough, but it is important to pick the right players.

“If they are available straight away then we can do it early, but often we have to wait.

“Lots of people tell us we should be doing this or that, but we have to try to be certain about the deals we are doing.”

Stoke have also registered their interest with Reading captain Matt Mills, and versatile Manchester United defender Wes Brown, but competition looks to be tough for the two signatures, with interest also coming from Wolves and Sunderland respectively.

Meanwhile, Pulis has moved quickly to deny any speculation linking Matthew Etherington with a move away from the club.

Etherington has been a key figure in the Stoke side since his £2 million move from West Ham in January 2009.

Pulis said: “Matty has been a major part of what we have tried to build here. He is a top player and a top lad.

“He has done well for this football club and this football club has done well for him. That is always a good marriage.”

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