Tony Pulis is hoping he can persuade goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to sign a new deal with Stoke City.
Potters boss eyes Wembley return after 12-year break
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is hoping he can persuade goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to sign a new deal with the club.
Sorensen has been forced to watch most games from the bench this season due to the good form of Asmir Begovic, but will return between the sticks for the FA Cup semi-final with Bolton this weekend.
The 34-year-old is only contracted to the Potters for another year, meaning an exit door could open next summer, but even then he may be kept on.
Sorensen has previously suggested he could leave the Britannia in search of first-team football but boss Pulis is keen to keep him.
"Thomas is a top goalkeeper. He is captain of Denmark and wants to play every week," Pulis said.
"It is always going to be a little bit frustrating when you are not. Asmir has come in and done smashing. That is what competition is all about.
"Thomas is a great professional who works really hard and I hope he plays really well on Sunday. He has been outstanding in cup games. We are in talks and fingers crossed a deal will be done."
Meanwhile, Pulis is hoping Sunday's Wembley date will be more favourable than his last visit to the national stadium as a manager.
In 1999 he is was in charge of Gillingham who were 2-0 up against Manchester City in the Division Two play-off final with three minutes to go.
However, Joe Royle's side launched a remarkable comebacks as goals from Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov, five minutes into stoppage time, took the game into extra-time and they went to win 3-1 on penalties.
Pulis added: "If you talk about one-off games and how things can swing we were 2-0 up with about three minutes to go.
"(Referee) Mark Halsey, bless him, put an extra five minutes on and we were beaten on penalties.
"The players were absolutely fantastic and I think Joe and Manchester City had the gods on their side that day. It went their way and you cannot do anything about that."
