Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has admitted that there may come a time when the club have to "move on" from their pursuit of West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino.
The Potters were said to have had a £20m bid rejected by the Baggies last month.
West Brom boss Tony Pulis recently claimed that only an "unbelievable" offer would tempt the club into selling the England Under-21 international.
Hughes has not yet given up on trying to sign the striker, but the prolonged negotiations may reach an impasse.
"We are quite a way down the line with that," Hughes said in this morning's press conference. "You have to let these things run their course and give them the time they deserve.
"Some deals just go on and on and you get to the point where you have to move on. There's been deals where we have made decisions to do that.
"We still have a view something may happen, but are close to the point where we move on and look at alternatives."
Berahino scored just four goals last season after spending the majority of the campaign on the bench.
