TheCable

Stoke City manager, Mark Hughes, has confirmed his club’s interest in signing Victor Moses on a permanent deal after an impressive loan spell.

Since joining on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea in August, Moses has played 19 games for the Potters and he’s fresh from scoring last week’s injury-time penalty winner at Aston Villa.

Stoke take on Hull City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday and Moses will be key again that his why his manager wants the £8million-rated player to become a permanent part of his squad this summer – or to at least extend his loan for another season.

“We’d ideally love to be able to take him if we can, but that won’t be our decision,” he said.

“Things have to fall in place, but if there was an opportunity to bring Victor here next season we’d love to do it. It will be discussed at the end of the season – and we will see how far it can go. But his profile is being raised all the time, so it is a two-edged sword.

“A loan could be a compromise. The key would be to try to find a way to keep him here next season. His parent club will have a huge say in that, of course. Victor is very happy. He will have to look at where, if he did go back to Chelsea, that would leave him. Would he get the opportunity perhaps his talents deserve?”

Moses has made just 43 appearances for Chelsea since signing from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2012 and spent last season on loan at Liverpool with little success.

And Hughes hailed his decision of teaming up with them.

“This decision to come to Stoke was crucial both for us and him,” he said.

“It was always about playing and not about any other issues. It was all about his desire to play and we made a good case for himself. He’s got options, but he knows he’s wanted here and for players that is highly important.

“We’ve not done ourselves any harm whatsoever and if he has choices we will be very much in his thoughts.”