Midfielder set for Potters

Premier League new boys Stoke City have agreed a deal to re-sign Danny Higginbotham from Sunderland.

Potters boss Tony Pulis has been chasing 29-year-old Higginbotham in the build up towards Monday's transfer deadline and has finally succeeded with a bid in the region of between £2m and £2.5million.

It will mark a return to the Britannia Stadium for Higginbotham, who started 45 league games with the Potters before being sold to the Black Cats a year ago.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane was reluctant to allow Higginbotham to leave, but following his transfer deadline day swoop for West Ham's George McCartney, it has paved the way clear for a deal to be done with Stoke.