Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill has told Stoke-on-Trent Live that no deals are currently imminent for the club in the transfer market. 

There has been talk in recent days that the Potters are eyeing loan moves for both Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis and former Chelsea and now Dijon centre back Jonathan Panzo.

However it has also been suggested that the Stoke-on-Trent side will need to make a sale or two in order to free up some money for new signings to be made at a time when funds are seemingly tight at the Bet365 Stadium.

Speaking recently about the prospect of bringing some new players into the club, O'Neill had this to say:

"No, nothing's imminent. 

"The players that I'm linked with certainly aren't in our price range.

"We've spoken to some players and their agents and those players are looking for financial situations which are out from where we are at this minute in time.

"January is a short-term market as well and we need one or two players to move the other way to free up some finances if we can do that."

Stoke currently have a host of players that are sidelined by injury, which means that they are expected to be active during the current window.

However it appears that sales will have to made in order for any players to come in the other way.

The Verdict 

This is a difficult position that O'Neill finds himself in at Stoke but the reality is that they aren't the only club that is dealing with this financial problem.

Every club has a budget that they must adhere too and it is clear that the Potters have pushed their's to the limit this season.

If they can move on some fringe players over the next few weeks, we could see one or two new additions coming in.

It's a frustrating process but it is one that the Potters need to enact if they are to get the squad to the level that they want it to be at moving forwards.