Stoke City have approached West Ham United about the availability of Dean Ashton.

Sources at the Britannia Stadium have refused to confirm whether negotiations have started over a possible transfer, however it is clear that Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, would be interested in signing the former Norwich City and Crewe Alexandra striker.

Ashton, 25, was tipped to play a starring role in the last Barclays Premier League season but he was unable to take the field at all after September 13 due to an ankle injury.

It was the second time that Ashton - who made his England debut against Trinidad and Tobago in June 2008 - had missed almost an entire season. He previously broke his ankle during a training session with the national team and saw 2006-07 wiped out as a result.

Peter Coates, the Stoke chairman, confirmed Pulis had approached West Ham over Ashton. "Tony has talked to them and that's the stage we're at," he said. "Dean was at Stoke as a boy so it would be full circle for him. Tony likes him as a player but there are lots of ifs and buts about it because of Dean's [injury] problems. I wouldn't have a clue at this stage whether anything will come of that."

Coates also admitted Stoke would be interested in signing Michael Owen from Newcastle United.