Stoke City: Player watch

STEWART Downing's expected move from Villa to Liverpool could trigger a transfer frenzy. And Stoke might just benefit...

IT SEEMS plausible that if, in chaos theory, the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil can set off a tornado in Texas, then the sale of an England fringe player at a ridiculously inflated price can lead to Stoke signing a temperamental Frenchman.

Liverpool, fresh from burning £16m on Jordan Henderson and £7m on Charlie Adam, have agreed a £20m fee with Aston Villa for Stewart Downing.

That would see Villa spark a chase for £10m-rated ready-made replacement Charles N'Zogbia, from Wigan.

The France international is also wanted by Stoke and his old club Newcastle, but it is Villa who seem prepared to meet his £65,000-a-week wage demands (Daily Telegraph).

So the race begins. But will Tony Pulis be losing any sleep over a player once deliberately mispronounced Charles Insomnia by former Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear?

Liverpool are also in the market for another Stoke target, Daniel Sturridge, who is currently picking up £60,000-a-week making the tea at Chelsea (The Guardian).

That's almost double the offer from Stoke that Carlton Cole has reportedly snubbed.

West Ham owner David Sullivan insists a resolution to that saga is in the player's court (Sky Sports).

Matt Taylor has also been managed by Joe Kinnear, who sold him from Luton to Portsmouth in 2002.

"At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask," said part-time wit Kinnear.

Taylor has since enjoyed an eight-year stint careering down the left flanks of Premier League grounds – and reports of him moving from Bolton Wanderers to Stoke are gathering pace.

The Daily Mail, ESPN and Sky Sports all link the 29-year-old with a £1.5m transfer to the Potters.

Another left-footer, Thomas Hitzlsperger, has escaped a driving ban after telling a court he needed to travel to find a new club (East Anglian Daily Times).

The 29-year-old has decided to stay in England to find a new club, which meant he needed to drive all over the country. Keep your eyes peeled on the A500.