Reading enquire after Duberry

Stoke City have confirmed earlier rumours that Reading have enquired about the availability of Michael Duberry.

The current captain is out of contract in the summer but had said a few months ago that he would like to sign another contract and see out his playing career at the Brit.

Tony Pulis confirmed that Reading have not made any offer and was playing the enquiry down: 'we enquire about 30 players a day, but getting something done is a different matter. At the moment it's all if's, but's and maybe's so we will see what happens.'

'The main concern for me is that he is in the right frame of mind for the Ipswich game because we need him focused on helping us to get the three points.'

Adding: 'The problem we have is that he is out of contract at the end of the season but I will have a talk to him today. He is still a Stoke player at this moment in time so he will be out doing his best for the club tomorrow.'

We don't really want to be losing our captain and central defender at this key stage of the season, but whether 31 year old Doobs stays beyond next summer will depend on whether the Potters are prepared to offer him a long enough contract. The older players are typically only being offered a one year contract these days - whether that will be enough for Duberry we can only wait and see.

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