Premier League side Burnley are expected to complete the signing of defender Erik Pieters from Stoke City imminently, The Daily Mail have reported.

Pieters joined Stoke from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2013, and has gone onto make 206 appearances in all competitions for the Potters, but spent the second half of last season on loan with French side Amiens, helping them to a 15th place finish in the French top flight.

Amiens' club president Bernard Joannin previously revealed to French outlet Courrier Picard that the club were in talks with Stoke about a permanent move for the left back, but it now appears as though Pieters is set to remain in the Premier League.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche is said to be keen to strengthen his defensive department as they look to build on their own 15th place finish in the Premier League last season, and Pieters is reportedly on the brink of moving to Turf Moor to provide competition for Charlie Taylor in the left back position.

Last week, it was reported by Sky Sports that Pieters was one of eight first team players left out of Stoke's pre-season tour to the Netherlands after being told that they are not part of manager Nathan Jones' plans for next season.

The verdict

I kind of feel like Stoke may be missing a trick here.

The fact that Burnley, a Premier League side, are so interested in Pieters suggests to me that the left back should be more than capable of making a contribution to Stoke at Championship level next season, particularly given his contribution for Amiens in the French top flight last season.

That being said, Nathan Jones has had his heart set on an overhaul of his Stoke squad for some time now, and having loaned Pieters out almost as soon as Jones was appointed as the club's manager, it was always going to be difficult for him to re-establish himself at the bet365 Stadium.

Pieters was a rather reliable defender in the Premier League for Stoke, and it will be interesting to see if he can continue that form following his move to Turf Moor next season.