Stoke City boss Mark Hughes hopes to sign Juan Agudelo in the summer.

Agudelo completed a move to the Britannia Stadium in January from Major League Soccer club the New England Revolution, but he was denied a work permit.

He was subsequently loaned out to FC Utrecht for the second half of the season.

Hughes checked on Agudelo earlier this month and told The Sentinel: "He seems quite content. Utrecht is a good club, a good set-up and I'm very impressed with their home ground, so it's a good stage to ply his trade on.

"He and I were both talking about the work permit and we are desperate to sort it out. I hope he is able to get one this time. That's what he is focused on.

"We took him for three and four weeks and have an understanding of what he can offer, and I've seen him now in a league environment and done well.

"We feel we have a case, but we also felt we had one last time."