Stoke manager Tony Pulis is hoping to sign England goalkeeper David James in time for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The potential transfer from Portsmouth is being discussed by the clubs' chief executives Tony Scholes and Peter Storrie.
Pulis believes James will add to the competition for the No 1 spot at the Britannia Stadium, although has refused to rule out the chance of Thomas Sorensen leaving as the Dane has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
Race against time: James could be a Stoke player by Saturday
'We'll have to see if the two clubs can come to a deal and we're hoping it will be tied up for the weekend, but it will have to be right for us,' said Pulis. 'If we can get him we'll be absolutely delighted because if there's a weakness (in the squad) it's been between the sticks in respect of having competition and back-up.
'We lost Thomas immediately before the Fulham game and if anything had happened to (deputy) Steve Simonsen, then we wouldn't have had a goalkeeper.
'It would have been a tragedy for us, and it really opens up your eyes. So we've an opportunity to bring in a top-class goalkeeper because we have heard he might be available.'
With James known to be itching for first-team football to enhance his prospects of playing for England in the World Cup, Pulis feels that strengthens his chances of recruiting the 39-year-old.
Great Dane: Sorensen
'You are signing a goalkeeper of real quality, and if he comes here he has a few months' football to play,' added Pulis.
'Sorensen has done brilliantly, so they will both be fighting for that one spot, but he (James) has something to prove as well.
'He'll want to be on that plane to South Africa, and that attracts me to him more than anything else. He is desperate to play for England in the World Cup.
'So if we can bring him in and give him the opportunity to prove he is the best goalkeeper in England, and he proves that, then we'll be delighted.'
Yet despite suggesting the goalkeeping department lacks strength in depth, there is every opportunity of Sorensen leaving to make way for James.
'We've heard the rumours that there are clubs in Europe who fancy Thomas, and it makes it more important that we cover ourselves,' said Pulis.
'If Bayern Munich, Manchester United or Chelsea come in for Thomas, he would want to better himself like everybody else does, just like (Cristiano) Ronaldo wanted to go to Real Madrid.
'But it (goalkeepers) is a fragile area. Hopefully we're covering it by bringing in David.'
Pulis is also known to be eager to strengthen up front, which is why he has been linked to the likes of Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones, Ruud van Nisteolrooy at Real Madrid and Amr Zaki with Egyptian side Zamalek.
Jones is understood to be favourite, although Black Cats manager Steve Bruce cast aspersions on Stoke's spending power this week by insisting the Potters could not afford him.
Regardless of such comments, Stoke chairman Peter Coates yesterday refused to rule out a bid for Jones.
'That situation is very disappointing because I've always tried to work manager to manager. I believe deals should be done that way,' assessed Pulis of the gossip linking him to the Trinidad & Tobago star.
'As far as I'm concerned it's not gone to that stage. If I'm going to be doing anything I'll be speaking to Steve Bruce first.
'All this nonsense about what he's earning has absolutely nothing to do with anything.
Back again? Jones (left) previously had a loan spell at Stoke
'It's a case of do we want him and do they want to sell him? Brucie has said he doesn't want to sell him, and who's saying we want him?
'But if Steve came back and said he wanted £20million for Kenwyne Jones, I'm not sure Peter would pay that.'
With regards to former Manchester United ace Van Nistelrooy, Pulis is a little more sceptical, but has again not dismissed it out of hand.
'I'd take Van Nistelrooy tomorrow if we could afford him or he wanted to come to Stoke,' said Pulis. 'But going from Real Madrid to Stoke City, I'm not so sure that's sexy enough for him, but we'll see.
'What we've done is we've made enquiries for four or five people.'
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