Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has suggested that the club are in with a chance of signing Oussama Assaidi from Liverpool on a permanent basis this summer.
The 25-year-old moved to the Britannia on a season-long loan for the 2013-14 campaign due to his failure to land a regular spot at Anfield.
With the Reds due to return to the Champions League next season, Hughes believes that the Merseyside club's extra games could work in their favour with regards to Assaidi's availability.
"The ball is very much in Liverpool's court because he is their player," The Sentinel quotes Hughes as saying.
"I'm not saying I know what they are thinking, but I would imagine that being in the Champions League, they will spend more money this summer and that could go against Ossie having a place there."
Reports have claimed that a bid in the region of £4m from Stoke could land Assaidi, who moved to Liverpool from Heerenveen two years ago.
Danielle Joynson
