Analysing the Transfer gossip – 23rd June Part 2: Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and more

Stoke manager Mark Hughes wants to bring Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland, 26, to the Britannia Stadium.

Full story: Sunday People

What’s the story? Ireland’s one good, exceptional in fact, season came under Hughes at Man City. At that stage, he was going to be a star. Off field issues and injury put a stop to that though. Stoke need some inventiveness and although Ireland hasn’t shown he can be a good option for many years, Hughes might try to revive him.Does it make sense? Not really. Villa would love to get rid of his wage so would take anything for him. He’s just a name now, not much use in the top flight.Is the price right? Villa would probably give him away.Will it happen? 8/10 – Probably, but if it does it shows Hughes has learned nothing from his QPR misadventure.