Stoke boss Tony Pulis is believed to have made a club record £12million move for Birmingham centre-half Scott Dann.
The Potters smashed their transfer record last summer with a move for striker Kenwyne Jones and chairman Peter Coates is ready to back Pulis in the transfer market again this summer.
However, Pulis will face plenty of competition for the highly-rated 24-year-old, who missed the end of last season through injury.
Tottenham and Liverpool have also been linked with Dann, while former Blues boss Alex McLeish may try and tempt the defender to join him at Aston Villa, but Stoke appear to have stolen a march on their rivals by launching a £12million move.