Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has refused to give any hint on whether Liverpool duo of Jermaine Pennant and Sami Hyypia; Kanga Akale and Haminu Dramani lined up ahead of August 31 summer transfer deadline.

The Potters have been linked with the aforementioned quartet with Ivory Coast winger Akale from Lens, and Ghana international Dramani of Lokomotiv Moscow, said to be loan targets. The Premiership new-entrants’ bid for veteran Finland defender Hyypia has already been rejected, while winger Pennant, who has been linked with Blackburn, is keen to stay at Anfield.

On Akale, who was on loan with Marseille ahead of the close season, when asked if he was lining up a move, Pulis told Sky Sports News: "No." On whether Dramani could join, he replied: "Which country is he from?”

Pulis distanced himself from the current speculation, adding: “Nope there's no truth in these players and if there was I wouldn't be telling you.

"We've been trying for ages to get players in. Obviously it's getting closer to the deadline, but I keep saying to everyone if we do business we'll do business with other clubs, we won't do it in the media."