Second Division promotion chasers Stoke City are set to make a bid for Irish international Curtis Fleming.

Even though Fleming has been near ever-present for Middlesbrough in the Premiership this season, Stoke still feel that they can tempt him away from the Riverside for pastures new at the Britannia Stadium.

Fleming, while only on the verges of the Irish international set-up, might feel that a move to the Second Division could end all hopes of adding to his caps total for his country.

At 32, Fleming is nearing the end of his Premiership career, but as yet Middlesbrough have nobody to replace him. If Bryan Robson manages to get Australian international Simon Colosimo to join the club, then he could well listen to offers for Curtis.

It is believed that Stoke are ready to pay £250,000 for the services of Fleming, who would join up with fellow Irishmen Graham Kavanagh, James O'Connor and Clive Clarke at the Potters.