Stoke make record £10million bid for Stephane M'Bia

Stoke City are rushing to push through a record £10million bid for Rennes midfield powerhouse Stephane M'Bia - and hope to beat Everton and Marseille in the race to sign him today.

M'Bia is set to fly in for a medical with the Potteries club this morning after Tony Pulis's negotiators moved ahead in the chase, but the player's four-year contract has yet to be agreed.

It will be a stunning piece of transfer business if Stoke pull it off as volatile Cameroon international M'Bia is rated one of the best midfielders in France.

Marseille have been close to signing him for the past week but could not close a deal while Everton boss David Moyes is a big admirer but was unwilling to match Rennes' huge asking price.

However both Marseille and Everton are expected to renew their efforts as Stoke's whirlwind move ran into the vital final problem of personal terms. But Stoke - backed by owner Peter Coates's cash - have jumped in and the midfield enforcer fits the bill for Pulis (above).

M'Bia's wages are around £50,000-a-week which would make him thebest-paid player at the Britannia Stadium if he signs after the talks and medical today.

Stoke think the deal is worth the investment as 6ft2in M'Bia ticks all their boxes and is also young enough to move again at 23.

He has been playing first-team football for four years and also broke into the Cameroon side, appearing in the Olympics.

Marseille were stunned when he rejected them and M'Bia's arrival in England may force Everton into trying to match the terms and fee - but Stoke are confident of completing a stunning transfer.

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