Stoke City FC

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Potters cool Ashton reports

26 Jun 2009 - 07:17:06

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Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has denied reports that his club are close to signing striker Dean Ashton from West Ham United.

On Thursday it emerged that the Potters were interested in the 25-year-old England striker.

However, Coates claims they are "a million miles away" from actually agreeing a deal to sign a player who started his career at Stoke.

"It's absolute nonsense," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I have have not said we are in talks with West Ham. We are a million miles from doing anything with Dean Ashton and probably won't."

Ashton has made just 51 first-team appearances during three-and-a-half years at Upton Park following a £7.25million transfer from Norwich City.

Ankle surgery in September ended his last season prematurely after making just four appearances.