James will hope to get regular football to earn a World Cup squad place

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has admitted he is hopeful of being able to seal a deal for Portsmouth keeper David James.

Pulis told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek that negotiations for the 39-year-old England man are ongoing.

He said: "We were hoping that we could have sorted it out before now, but it has gone on for longer than we thought.

"But we are still interested in signing David. And if we can do the deal, then we think it will be a good deal for both him and for Stoke."

James wants to prove his form and fitness to England coach Fabio Capello ahead of the World Cup this summer and is in search of regular first-team football.

The former Liverpool and West Ham keeper has played 141 times for Portsmouth and was part of their FA Cup-winning side in 2008, but has only figured 12 times this season, with a combination of injury and Asmir Begovic keeping him out of the side.

606: DEBATE Your views on David James joining Stoke

With his England place coming under increasing threat from Birmingham's in-form keeper Joe Hart and West Ham's Robert Green, James is desperate for a run of games in the Premier League.

He will have to battle Thomas Sorensen for the goalkeeper's jersey at Stoke, after the 33-year-old Danish international recently pledged his future to the club despite being linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich.

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