Middlesbrough tell Stoke boss Pulis to up bid for Robert Huth

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis will have to increase his £2.5 million bid for Middlesbrough's Robert Huth – so Boro can give the German a pay-off to leave.

Pulis wants Huth and hoped to pull off a move at the weekend, but the player's personal deal at Boro is so good that Stoke cannot match it.

Now Boro have asked the Potters for more money in the fee to let them hand the former Chelsea defender a golden handshake to make up for the pay cut he will have to take.

Pulis is reluctant to go much higher for Huth but after a frustrating window he may be forced to fork out more than he wants.