Stoke City chief executive Tony Scholes has talked up the transfer business conducted by the club since manager Mark Hughes took charge.

Hughes has impressed since taking over at the Britannia Stadium in May 2013, with Stoke currently in line for back-to-back finishes in the top half of the Premier League.

The likes of Marko Arnautovic, Bojan Krkic and Mame Biram Diouf are among those to have been brought in by the Potters since Hughes's arrival, and Scholes believes that each signing has brought extra quality to the team.

The club also tied down promising young goalkeeper Jack Butland to a new deal last month, and Scholes is confident that the future is bright for Stoke.

"If you look at the deals we have done since Mark Hughes arrived then almost without exception they have been good deals and very good footballers. It's about making sure you are adding to the quality and improving all of the time, but we have also got a strong eye on making sure that we have got a depth of squad," he told The Sentinel.

"We have to make sure that when we have injuries to the incredible scale we have had this year that the players are able to come in and do a good job - and the players who have come in this season have done an exceptional job.

"You also have to make sure that you are planning for next year and the years beyond. Signing Jack Butland to an extended contract is a statement that we are in the Premier League for the long term."

Stoke's next match comes on Saturday as they face league leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.