Transfer Centre

Peter Coates: 'Stoke City still want Saido Berahino'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 27 July 2016

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates insists that his club are still interested in signing West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino this summer.

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has insisted that his club are still interested in signing West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino in this summer's transfer window.

It is understood that Stoke and Crystal Palace have both failed with £20m bids for the Englishman, who has been widely tipped to leave The Hawthorns this summer following a difficult 2015-16 campaign with the Baggies.

Berahino scored 20 goals during his breakthrough 2014-15 season but managed just four during last term, spending long spells on the bench after falling out with the club.

West Brom are currently refusing to sell the forward, but Coates has revealed that the Potters still hold an interest.

"We're after that elusive striker everyone is looking for," Coates told talkSPORT. "Players like to see new faces and the club moving on. Although it might affect their position, they still want to feel you're improving.

"[Saido Berahino] is on our list. We would like to do something. We're in the hands of the player and West Bromwich Albion at the minute and we're working away on it. We would like to take him if a deal can be done."

Berahino was strongly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur last summer.