Stoke boss Tony Pulis refused to be drawn on whether Liverpool outcasts Sami Hyypia and Jermaine Pennant are imminent buys.
Stoke are reported to have made a joint £7.5million offer Pennant and Hyypia.
Pulis told Sky Sports News: "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'll do business we'll do business with other clubs, we won't do in the media.
"I think the most important thing is we try and do our business in the right and proper manner.
"If we can do deals we'll do deals. I keep saying there are three parties involved and you have to get them to agree. That's the way it works."