Stoke have entered tentative talks with Liverpool over the permanent signing of winger Oussama Assaidi.
Potters boss Mark Hughes was keen to stress the dialogue is at a very early stage but he is hopeful of keeping Assaidi at the Britannia Stadium after a successful season-long loan.
Assaidi has scored four goals in 24 appearances this season, and it would have been more had he not missed two months with a knee ligament injury.
The 25-year-old Moroccan joined Liverpool in the summer of 2012 from Dutch club Heerenveen and made 12 appearances for the Reds last season.
Hughes said: "We like Ossie and if we could come to an arrangement with Liverpool we would like to bring him here.
"He's a valuable player and I think Liverpool recognise that. I think there's been tentative enquiries but nothing concrete yet. He's done really well here. It's certainly helped him and Ossie's certainly helped us.
"He's got good friends here. He's got a good relationship with Marko Arnautovic - they make a nice couple! Those things are important to players. If they're happy in an environment then that can help if you're trying to bring them to a club."
Assaidi is Stoke's only doubt for Saturday's clash with Fulham after taking a bang to his knee in training while captain Ryan Shawcross sits out the match through suspension.
The defender had played every minute of every Premier League this season until he was shown a red card against Tottenham last weekend.
Shawcross is likely to be replaced by Spaniard Marc Muniesa, who deputised for the final 38 minutes against Spurs.
