Stoke ready to offer Stephen Ireland an exit route from Aston Villa with Everton also keen
Mark Hughes has already worked with the midfielder at Manchester City and is keen to renew their partnership next season
Stoke boss Mark Hughes is ready to offer Stephen Ireland an escape route from Aston Villa, writes Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday People .
But he could face serious competition from new Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who is also showing an interest in the former Republic of Ireland midfielder.
Ireland, 26, played some of the best football of his career under Hughes when the pair were together at Manchester City, winning the 2008-09 player of the year award.
After the Welshman left the Etihad, however, he fell out of favour with replacement Roberto Mancini and was packed off to Villa Park in the summer of 2010.
Ireland has never rediscovered the form that made him one of the most promising young players in the Premier League since his move to the West Midlands.
A loan spell at Newcastle also failed to reignite his career and, with just a year remaining on his contract, Villa boss Paul Lambert is working on a release strategy.
That has alerted Hughes, who took over at the Britannia last month.
Ireland earns £30,000 a week at Villa so his wages would not be a problem for Stoke … or Everton.
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