Last Updated: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:55
Stoke have dismissed claims of making illegal approaches to Crewe pair Ben Marshall and Matthew Lund who could sign for the Potters.
The teenage duo worked with Stoke's academy director Steve Holland at Gresty Road but he has dismissed any suggestions of foul play.
Holland told the Sentinel: "I want to clarify that Ben and Matthew turned down contracts at Crewe.
"I received a phone call from both players asking if Stoke would be interested in signing them. Then I had a conversation with Dario Gradi at Crewe to inform him of the situation.
"It's possibly a situation that will now develop when the players return from their holidays, but it's not a foregone conclusion or a done deal."
Stoke will be liable to pay compensation for the pair if they sign with a tribunal setting the fee if the two clubs cannot agree a figure.