Stoke City must cough up £6 million to sign permanently Jermaine Pennant from Real Zaragoza.
Potters boss Tony Pulis wants to make the winger's move permanent when his loan deal runs out at the end of this month.
Pennant, who is expected to shake off a hamstring injury in time to face Blackpool on Saturday, is ready to take a pay cut to make sure the move goes through.
But Stoke have made it clear they will not be held to ransom.
And they are unlikely to pay £6m for a 27-year-old who cost Zaragoza nothing when he was freed by Liverpool 18 months ago.
