Pulis puts Ashton hunt on hold

Ashton: Among Stoke's options

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Stoke City boss Tony Pulis admits following up an enquiry for West Ham United striker Dean Ashton is currently at the 'back of his mind'.

Potters chairman Peter Coates revealed last month that former Crewe forward Ashton was among Pulis' summer transfer targets.

Pulis confirmed he has shown an interest in Ashton, who has struggled with injuries during the past two seasons.

However, he admits that he has been enquiring about a host of players as he seeks the right signings to add to his squad for the new campaign.

Wait and see

"It's one of many enquiries we've made," Pulis told Sky Sports News.

"I think the situation is the same with most clubs. You enquire about what's out there and what's not, and then you take a view, and we've taken a view on about 15 players.

"You just wait and see what comes up and what doesn't come up. It changes every day.

"Other clubs go out and buy players, and certain players then become available and certain players drop off the radar for all sorts of reasons - whether they are too expensive, whether you are worried about them settling into your football club and whether the value of the player is too much for what you can afford and what you can do.

"There's all different situations that you come across and you have to make sure the players are right for your football club."

Expanding on Ashton, he added: "We've made an enquiry and I think, at the moment, that's at the back of our minds as there are other things going on that are more relevant and that could happen a lot quicker."

Benjani Mwaruwari is another forward to have been linked with a move to the Britannia Stadium, but Pulis did not confirm any interest in the Manchester City man.

He said: "You can ask about 15, 16 players that we've spoken to other clubs about or we've enquired about."