Stoke City locked in six-way battle for Montpellier midfielder

Stoke City are locked in a six-way battle with a host of European clubs to land Montpellier midfielder Benjamin Stambouli.

The 23-year-old, who has previously been trailed by Everton and Newcastle, has just over a year left on his contract and is not expected to renew it at his current club.

As such, Montpellier are primed to cash in on him this summer, with a host of clubs aware that they can land him for a knockdown price over the coming weeks.

Sources in France claim that Stoke are one of six teams trying to secure his services this summer.

The former France under-21 midfielder is also wanted by the Ligue 1 pair of Marseille and Lyon, Bundesliga sides Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach, as well as Europa League champions Sevilla, who are searching for a replacement for Barcelona-bound midfielder Ivan Rakitic.