Tottenham could pip Stoke to top players, admits Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes has conceded Stoke may struggle to attract top players to the Britannia Stadium in the summer if they are rivalled in their pursuits by Tottenham.

Stoke host title-chasing Tottenham on Monday Night Football - live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm - aiming to boost their chances of securing European football for next season. 

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The Potters have twice broken their transfer record in the previous eight months, with the £18.3m addition of Giannelli Imbula in January usurping the £12m laid out for Xherdan Shaqiri last August. 

Stoke also had a £21m bid for Saido Berahino rejected by West Bromwich Albion in January, a player Spurs unsuccessfully attempted to lure to White Hart Lane last summer.

Reports in Monday's national newspapers suggest both clubs will revive their interest in Berahino in the summer and Hughes has admitted that Stoke will find it hard to convince a player to join them if Spurs are also interested. 

"By all accounts, Spurs will always have an interest in quite a few players we are interested in," the Stoke manager said.

"There are players out there who you express an interest in - but because they are good players, there will always be other teams involved.

"If we're being realistic, if a player has a choice of Spurs or Stoke, then we could pitch up and make a good case for them to come here.

"But they may feel Spurs is a more attractive option and we have to accept that."