Stoke close on Kopteff

Stoke boss Johan Boskamp is confident of pushing through a deal for Peter Kopteff, but has admitted defeat in his bid to land Goran Lovre.

Lovre has long been linked with a move to Stoke, but he revealed earlier in the week that he was keen on fighting for his place at Anderlecht and now Boskamp has effectively ruled The Potters out of the running for the Serb.

"I think maybe a deal for Lovre is dead now. He is asking for too much money and I heard he is in the Anderlecht team again now," added Boskamp.

A move for Kopteff looks like bearing fruit, with Boskamp confident he can beat off rival interest to the Viking Stavanger winger.

"I am confident that he wants to play for the club and can agree terms," Boskamp told the club's website. "He is a really good player with two good feet and a good range of passing."

Should Kopteff strike a deal, he could be joined at the club by Lovre's Anderlecht team-mate Lamine Traore.

Boskamp was eager to bring both players across from Belgium, but is still keen on Burkina Faso defender Traore despite losing out on Lovre.

"Traore is a player who can play in the (Gerry) Taggart role and also as a full back," said Boskamp.