Stoke City
Striker Peter Crouch hopes a deal can be agreed to extend his stay at Stoke City past the end of the season.
The former England international is out of contract in the summer and so could now open negotiations with foreign clubs over a potentially lucrative Bosman free transfer abroad.
However, the much-travelled frontman – who joined Stoke from Tottenham Hotspur in late August 2011 and has been reported to be interesting former Stoke manager Tony Pulis at West Brom – would prefer to stay in the Premier League, preferably at the Britannia Stadium, with manager Mark Hughes keen to retain him.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future but at the moment, for the foreseeable future, I am happy playing for Stoke,” said Crouch.
“My contract is up at the end of the season so I don’t know what the future will hold, but at the moment I will just continue to do what I do – that is work hard and hopefully score some goals.”
Crouch added: “It is nice to hear when the manager has got belief in you and hopefully I can stay here for a few more years after this.”
Stoke could not unsettle Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in the same way they had in the home Premier League game before Christmas, and were well beaten 3-0.
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Crouch, though, relished his “gigantic” battle with 6ft 6in German defender Per Mertesacker.
“I have always enjoyed it, I don’t want to give any defenders an easy ride and hopefully you can put yourself about to unsettle them,” he said.
“I have tried to do that and always try to.”
Manchester City
Serbian international defender Matija Nastasic will move on loan to Bundesliga side Schalke from English champions Manchester City till the end of the season the German club announced on Monday.
Schalke also have an option to buy the 21-year-old – who has played just once for City this season and had an injury-plagued campaign last term – at the end of the loan spell.
The deal is subject to him passing a medical.
Leicester City
Leicester City are set to sign Croatia striker Andrej Kramaric after the Football Association on Monday gave their support to his work permit application.
Leicester have agreed a reported fee of £9.5 million (Dh52.6m) to sign Kramaric from Rijeka, but his three-and-a-half-year contract could only be signed once the permit has been granted.
The 23-year-old’s lack of international experience, with only four caps to his name, meant a permit was not automatically granted.
But having played for Croatia from Under 14 through to U21 level and recently broken into the senior squad and scored goals, victory on appeal is likely – especially with the FA’s backing.
“Leicester City Football Club has today (Monday) received a Governing Body Endorsement from the Football Association to support the work permit application of Andrej Kramaric,” a Leicester statement read.
“The FA endorsement allows the club to apply for clearance from the UK Border Agency. Once a work permit is granted, Andrej’s move to Leicester City from Croatian side HNK Rijeka will be made official.”
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