Coates expects transfers to rise

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has said he expects the funds now available to Manchester City to inflate transfer fees for all clubs.

Coates told BBC Radio Stoke: "These things can escalate transfer fees and a player's wages.

"It will affect the top three of four more than a club like Stoke, but it can trickle down to the smaller clubs."

Manchester City's new owners the Abu Dhabi United Group have publically promised the club vast transfer funds.

The Potters have spent over £20m in bringing 10 new players to the club since their promotion from the Championship, but Coates says manager Tony Pulis will have more money to spend in January.

"We shall be looking at the market and how we perform between now and then but it is entirely possible that we will strengthen in January," said Coates.

"So far we have perhaps spent more than we expected to, but we want to strengthen the team so will continue to monitor the players that we might be interested in."