​Stoke City are looking to strengthen their defensive options after reportedly making a £5.3m bid for Tottenham Hotspur defender Federico Fazio.





According to Spanish website ​El Correo, Mark Hughes is eager to capitalise on the centre-back's position at White Hart Lane, having fallen down the pecking order under Mauricio Pochettino.





The towering Argentine has made only one appearance this season, a rather shaky performance in the Capital One Cup against Arsenal - a match Spurs lost 2-1.

El Correo say Stoke City have made a £5.3million bid for Federico Fazio but he only wants to join Sevilla #COYS pic.twitter.com/8Xb38WtKdH — Harry Charalambous (@PrimeSpur1992) January 31, 2016

Indeed, Fazio has been named in the matchday squad on only five occasions this season and doesn't look to be a part of Pochettino's plans.





Hughes is keen to bolster his defence and balance his squad, who have earned plaudits this season for reshaping the identity of Stoke with exciting attacking talents like Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan Krkic and Marko Arnautovic helping propel the Potters to ninth in the table.

However, Stoke may face stiff competition in the shape of Sevilla, who Fazio reportedly views as his favourable destination, should he decide to leave North London.





Stoke face a real danger in missing out too, considering Fazio played for the La Liga side 197 times before joining Spurs in 2014. Whatever happens, it does look as though Fazio's forgettable spell with Spurs is inching towards a conclusion.



