Stoke to move for Dean Ashton

Ashton, 25, has been sidelined since suffering a serious ankle injury in September 2008, but the once-capped England forward is understood to be on course to return to action in time for the start of the new season. The former Norwich striker has made just 46 league appearances for West Ham since arriving from Carrow Road in a £7.25m transfer in January 2006. Ashton's future at Upton Park had appeared to become clouded by the loan signing of Chilean forward Luis Jimenez from Inter Milan earlier this week. And it now seems as though Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola has given his blessing to the sale of Ashton, with Stoke confident of thrashing out a deal for the player, who began his career with Staffordshire neighbours Crewe Alexandra. While Ashton may be viewed as a gamble by many due to his chequered injury record, Stoke manager Tony Pulis has proven to be an astute worker in the transfer market since guiding the club to the Premier League last year. Pulis spent £3.5m to land James Beattie from Sheffield United in January and the former Everton and England striker repaid the investment with seven goals in 16 league games as Stoke comfortably avoided relegation. Another January move for West Ham midfielder Matthew Etherington also proved successful and Pulis has admitted that he is now ready to make a move to tempt Michael Owen to Stoke. Owen, 29, is out of contract at Newcastle on June 30 and both Stoke and Hull are ready to battle it out to sign the former England captain on a free transfer. Ashton could become a Stoke player before Owen, however, if talks planned for this week reach a successful conclusion.