Hughes: Cattermole signing for Stoke unlikely
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes believes his chances of signing Lee Cattermore are slim after Sunderland reached the League Cup final.
The 25-year-old midfielder emerged as a reported transfer target for Hughes earlier this week.
However, Hughes believes the former Middlesbrough man is unlikely to move to the Britannia Stadium in January, following his impressive performance at Old Trafford on Wednesday as Sunderland made it past Manchester United in their League Cup semi-final.
"Given the fact that Sunderland had a fantastic result the other night, and the player you mention (Cattermole) played really well on the night, I think it's highly unlikely it will happen," said Hughes.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet insists his club have not received a bid from Stoke, or elsewhere, for Cattermole.
"There have been no offers at all for Lee Cattermole," said the Uruguayan.
"I try to be helpful when I can be to the media over transfers, although it is important I do not say anything which might affect a transfer.
"But in this case, it is an easy question for me to answer: we have definitely not had an offer for him."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Hughes, meanwhile, has once again made it clear that striker Peter Crouch, a player linked with moves to QPR and Crystal Palace, will remain at Stoke.
"His sale is not an option," Hughes stated.
‘Thierry Henry was my hero, but when you talk about players who have a wand of a left foot, he genuinely had that. He made my life so much easier on the right’: Ex-Arsenal star omits Gunners legend from his Perfect XI
Who is Sonia Bompastor? Everything you need to know about the Chelsea women manager