Thursday 15 December 2016 15:11, UK
Lee Grant's hopes of a permanent move to Stoke look in jeopardy, with manager Mark Hughes calling on Derby to reach a 'sensible conclusion'.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper made a surprise deadline-day loan switch to the Potteries, having fallen down the pecking order at Pride Park.
Grant was brought in as cover for injured Stoke No 1 Jack Butland and swiftly usurped Shay Given between the sticks, flourishing since making his first ever Premier League appearance on 24 September.
The goalkeeper was named man of the match for his display in 10-man Stoke's hard-fought 0-0 draw with Southampton on Wednesday, but Hughes warned that Derby's demands could prevent Grant extending his stay, with his loan expiring on January 3.
He said: "We'd like Lee to stay and I think that Lee would love to be a part of the club.
"At the moment, obviously, Derby have the upper hand in terms of negotiation and maybe they just need to come to a little bit more of a sensible conclusion.
"At the moment it is a little bit difficult, so we hope it is going to be resolved. It needs to be for all three parties, really: Derby, ourselves and Lee, more importantly."
Hughes remains unsure when England international Butland will return but was clear that he wants a strong group of goalkeepers at the bet365 Stadium.
He said: "If you look back at the goalkeeping group, even before my time, it has always been really strong here.
"We want that group to get back to those levels as well, so the likes of Jack, Shay, Lee and Jakob (Haugaard), who has been played in the first team.
"It gets that strength in the goalkeeping group back to the level it was maybe a couple of years back."
