Source: Team_Talk
Pulis: Potters won't pounce for Pete
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has ruled out a move for Tottenham striker Peter Crouch - but is staying coy over links to Cardiff's Jay Bothroyd.[LNB] Injuries to strikers Kenwyne Jones and Mamady Sidibe have strengthened Pulis' conviction that he has to bring in reinforcements.[LNB]The Potters boss is without both his big front men for Tuesday's Carling Cup second-round tie at home to League Two side Shrewsbury.[LNB]Jones, an £8million signing from Sunderland, has not played since injuring his ankle on the opening day of the Premier League season while Sidibe is out for the season after snapping an Achilles tendon in Saturday's defeat to Tottenham and underwent an operation on Monday.[LNB]Having brought in Jones and Ipswich's Jon Walters - with James Beattie having left for Rangers and Dave Kitson out of favour - Pulis knows he has to find more back-up, even though he also has Ricardo Fuller and Tuncay Sanli.[LNB]Pulis has dismissed reports linking him with Crouch, insisting the England international is out of their price range, but admits he is looking for more additions before the transfer window closes.[LNB]"No, we wouldn't be able to afford Peter Crouch," said the Potters boss.[LNB]"But the fact we have lost Kenwyne and Mama in our first two matches shows how lightweight we are in certain areas of the squad.[LNB]"This happens in football, you have a run of good luck just as you then have a run of bad luck.[LNB]"So we will be looking to address that situation before the deadline and, as I have stated before, it is important we bring more goals to the team.[LNB]"We were looking at four [signings] before Mama got injured, but there will be players leaving as well and we are hoping the next few days will be busy for everyone connected with the club."[LNB]Pulis was remaining coy on a move for Bothroyd, adding: "I think [Cardiff boss] Dave Jones would be delighted you are touting his players around, but we will do our business the way we do our business and that is through the right channels."[LNB]There have been suggestions that Tuncay may be one to leave the Britannia Stadium as he has struggled to hold down a regular place since his move from Middlesbrough.[LNB]Pulis refused to confirm whether that would be the case but he did not rule it out.[LNB]"Again there has been loads of speculation about loads of players leaving and for people to be moving on to do deals you have to have happy parties, have two clubs agree on a deal and the player has to be happy to move," he told Sky Sports News.[LNB]"There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes and whether Tunny is one of them we will have to wait and see."[LNB]Chief executive Tony Scholes confirmed Pulis' intention to bolster the squad before the end of the month.[LNB]"There is likely to be more activity on that front before the window shuts as we look to improve the first team squad," he said.
