Stoke are in the hunt to sign Louie Barry on loan next month with Aston Villa planning to recall him from Sheffield United.
The midfielder has not played for the Blades since October and Villa will bring him back and immediately send him back out on loan in January.
Promotion-chasing Stoke, second in the Championship, are among a host of interested clubs which include Derby, Hull and Oxford.
Barry spent the second half of last season on loan at Hull - after a successful 16-goal loan spell in League One with Stockport - but it was cut short by a knee injury and he made just four appearances.