Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has suggested that the club will not pay over the odds to sign in-form goalkeeper Lee Grant.

The 33-year-old has impressed during his loan spell from Derby County - keeping five clean sheets in 11 Premier League appearances - and Hughes has previously said that he would like to sign the stopper on a permanent deal.

However, just weeks before the start of the January transfer window, Hughes has claimed that Derby are asking for "too much money" for Grant after the level of his recent performances.

The 53-year-old told reporters: "We would like to get something done, but they are asking for too much money at the moment.

"We have a fee we feel he is worth - a market value, and we aren't going to be held to ransom. If it doesn't change soon then we will have to look at other options.

"He came here with no promises, no guarantees, but circumstances have allowed him to come into the team and he has been fantastic for us. We were conceding too readily and he has steadied the ship."

Stoke have three other goalkeepers on their books in Jack Butland, Shay Given and Jakob Haugaard.