Fulham boss Mark Hughes has been linked with a move for Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz but faces competition.
The new Cottagers boss has signed Santa Cruz twice before, for City and Blackburn, and has now been linked with a raid on his former club for the Paraguyan forward.
However, Stoke City have already held talks with the Eastlands side regarding the striker and Hughes will have to act quickly if he is to secure Santa Cruz's services.
It is thought City would be willing to allow the forward to leave for a fee of around £8million as boss Roberto Mancini continues to trim his squad ahead of the September 1 deadline for naming the 25-man squad for the Premier League.