How about Hengbart?

Auxerre defender Cedric Hengbart has emerged as another potential picking for the Potters, but we`re not the only ones after his services as Wigan, Blackburn, QPR and Newcastle are equally interested.

The 30-year-old attacking right-back is in the final year of his contract, however he can buy himself out of the contract for as little as £500,000 under the confusingly complicated Webster ruling.

Tony Pulis has been making a couple of personal scouting trips, watching players from here to Timbuktu, and Hengbart has been one of the players to shine through Tony`s specs. It has hinted in the past that a centre back is high on the club's summer agenda, so both Hengbart and Liam Ridgewell have the biggest chance of moving to the Brit.

Teams in Germany are also interested in Hengbert's services, but they face fierce competition from the Premier League clubs.

Cedric said: 'I have contacts in England. Stoke and Blackburn are the most serious ones and there's also QPR to a slightly less degree.

'Werder Bremen and Hannover have also been in touch. But Germany is my third priority behind England and France.'

Toulouse have made an offer of £1.4million to Auxerre for the defender, but Hengbart still has his heart set on England.

I think a bit of Googling is in order before I can make a comment on the player, but we are right in looking for a defender. We need some form of back-up for Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth, especially as Abdoulaye Faye has parted company with us. Perhaps a player such as Cedric Hengbart can offer some valuable experience to influence the ever developing Shawcross.


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