James is keen to move away from Fratton Park in order to secure his place in England's World Cup this summer, and Pulis is ready to give him first-team football at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke may yet face competition from fellow Premier League clubs for James but Pulis has confirmed the Potters are already in negotiations to sign the 39-year-old until the end of the season. Stoke could then take over his contract permanently. It is thought James will compete with rather than replace Thomas Sorensen, linked with Bayern Munich, with Pulis insisting he needs three top goalkeepers to challenge for the number one jersey. He said: "We have made an enquiry for David and the chief executive (Tony Scholes) is talking to Peter Storrie at Portsmouth as we speak. "We'll have to see what happens, but there could be other clubs in for him. "If there's one area where we are light it's the goalkeepers. If anything had been wrong with (second choice Steve) Simonsen the other day we wouldn't have had a keeper. "It's an opportunity to bring in another goalkeeper. But not just a goalkeeper - a top-class goalkeeper. If he comes he's got six months football to play. "He's got something to prove to get on that plane to South Africa and that's what attracts me. "Sorensen has done brilliantly, so they will both be fighting for that one spot."
