Boss in bidding frenzy

Tony Pulis has reportedly made bids for Danny Higginbotham and Joe Ledley as he tries to strengthen his Stoke City squad.

The Potters boss is believed to have tabled a £1.75m bid for Sunderland defender Higginbotham, who has been linked with a return to the club all summer.

Pulis has also reportedly made a bid for Cardiff City's talented wide man Ledley, who scored the winner against Barnsley in last season's FA Cup semi-final.

But the south Wales club do not want to sell their £5million-rated winger, which could force Pulis to drop down his list of Championship targets and make a late deadline day effort to land Ipswich's Jonathan Walters.