Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has suggested that his side are out of the running to sign Fabian Delph from Manchester City after failing to get a move over the line.
The 27-year-old has been unable to make an impression at the Etihad Stadium since joining from Aston Villa in 2015 and is reportedly available to purchase for around £14m.
West Bromwich Albion and Stoke were said to be the two sides battling it out for Delph's signature, but Hughes is unlikely to continue his pursuit any further.
Regardless of any movement on that front the Welshman is intent on keeping Joe Allen at the club this summer, having received an enquiry from Swansea City over the midfielder's availability.
"We've been down a little bit of a road on that one," Hughes told reporters when asked about Delph. "We've had blocks in the road, so to speak.
"We just can't seem to get over it, so I'm not sure that one is viable for us to be perfectly honest, but we'll see, something might happen.
"But that doesn't affect our position with Joe. They made an enquiry. It wasn't a bid or a request to buy him or anything like that. They just asked would we be willing to allow him to leave and we said no.
"I think we have to respect that they came and they did that - and because of the answer they got you'd like to think they will respect our position."
Stoke, who begin their Premier League campaign away to Everton on Saturday, have so far brought in four new players during the summer transfer window.
Daniel Lewis
