Stoke City midfielder Giannelli Imbula is attracting widespread interest this summer, according to reports emerging from France.

French media outlet RMC Sport reports that Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are among the sides chasing Imbula this summer.

The Magpies are hoping to capture the 25-year-old holding midfielder, who spent last season away from the bet365 Stadium on loan at Toulouse in France, but they face competition from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

Turkish giants Galatasaray also want Imbula, who cost the Potters a club record transfer fee of £18.3m on deadline day in the 2016 January transfer window.

Serie A side Torino are another side in the hunt for the former France under-21 international as they look to strengthen their defensive midfield options.

The Italian side saw a move for Sunderland's Didier Ndong collapse earlier in the window and they have turned their attention to Stoke's Imbula.

The former Guingamp, Marseille and FC Porto midfielder played 28 times for Stoke in his year-and-a-half stay at the club, before falling out of favour under Mark Hughes and being shipped out on loan to Toulouse.

The Verdict

As Imbula has not been in the side, he will not be missed if he is sold.

Stoke might struggle to recoup the hefty fee they paid for him but getting his wages off the books and receiving a decent fee would be enough to reinvest some money back into the squad.

With a contract lasting until 2021, it is likely to take a sizeable fee to prise him away from Stoke on a permanent deal.

Stoke fans - Would you like to see Imbula stay or leave? Let us know below...