The Potters are believed to have seen a bid accepted for Walters on Friday and are now aiming to push through a deal for the forward before pre-season gets underway.

Ipswich had hoped to hold on to Walters this summer but a move to the Premier League - and a return to the north-west - appears to have turned the 24-year-old's head. He will now hold talks at the Britannia Stadium and is likely to join his new team-mates in training on Thursday.

The Tractor Boys have already begun to look for replacements, with Angelos Charisteas likely to come in up front and Southampton's Rudi Skacel set to boost Jim Magilton's midfield options.

Meanwhile Stoke are thought to be in talks with Liverpool over the possible transfer of some of their fringe players. Scott Carson has been muted as a potential signing should Marton Fulop not complete his move from Sunderland, while young Moroccan forward Nabil El Zhar has also attracted the attention of Tony Pulis.

Liverpool are looking to ship out players in order to fund their own summer spending - with Jermaine Pennant topping the list of likely big-name departures. It is unclear whether the winger would be interested in a switch to Stoke but it is understood he has been offered to Blackburn as part of a deal to take David Bentley to Anfield.