Robins remains coy about Potters' progress with Smit

TARGET: Stoke City are looking to complete a deal for Milan Smit.

- Peter Smith

looking to complete a deal for Milan Smit.

MARK Robins played a straight bat to transfer talk as Stoke City try to close a deal for striker Milan Smit.

Stoke had been keen to bring in extra quality up front going into the January transfer window - and that wish has been crystalised by five strikers currently at the club suffering serious injuries, on top of a tsunami of other injuries around the squad.

It appears that they have made a breakthrough now with the focus on 22-year-old Smit from Go Ahead Eagles.

Smit pulled out of Go Ahead's preparations for the Europa League tie in Nice and it is believed he is hoping to finalise a switch to the bet365 Stadium for a fee which is reported in the Dutch press to be worth nearly £5 million.

But Robins said: "I have no updates. That is something that they will be working hard and trying to do something, I know they are. But as for regards to how close, if we're close, how many, what positions, I can't divulge."

Robins only went as far as to admit he would welcome a new addition as injuries continue to stack up - and Bosun Lawal now serves a suspension as Stoke head to Birmingham on Saturday.