Transfer report: Stoke City playing hardball over Giannelli Imbula wages as Nice seek loan deal for Potters flop

Stoke City are demanding Nice offer to pay a larger percentage of Giannelli Imbula's wages after they discovered the French side can afford to shoulder the burden.

Nice want to take Imbula from the Potters on a loan deal, but the French club are keen to see Stoke continue to pay a portion of the former Porto man's salary.

However, Stoke have been unhappy with Nice's unwillingness to pay a higher percentage of Imbula's wages.

According to L'Equipe, the Premier League club have learned how much Nice paid their top earner last season, and as such, are confident they can afford to be more generous with their offer.

Stoke are keen for Imbula to spend a season away from the club, as they assess their options ahead of potentially shipping the midfielder off on a permanent deal next summer.

The 24-year-old is under contract at Stoke until 2021 and with the club admitting his move has not worked out, they are reportedly keen to cut their losses and offload him.