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Mark Hughes is trying to bring in a third new centre-back of the summer transfer window by targeting Club Brugge's Bjorn Engels, according to reports in Belgium.

Stoke City have already secured the return of Bruno Martins Indi from Porto in a £7m deal and signed Kurt Zouma on a season-long loan from Chelsea. Hughes, who has made a three centre-half system his plan A, also hopes to secure an extended contract for captain Ryan Shawcross.

He has been linked with Tottenham's Kevin Wimmer, who has been landed with a £20m price tag, and now Engels, a 22-year-old former Belgium youth international.

Engels, a 6ft 4in stopper who has previously been of reported interest to Arsenal and Everton, has helped Brugge to two wins in his two league appearances so far this season – but could not help them get past Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League.

Sven Claes, a pundit for Het Belang van Limburg, wrote on Twitter: "Stoke City have shown specific interest for Bjorn Engels (22) from Club Brugges. Negotiations going on."

Brugge are apparently holding out for about £8.5m but that might seem optimistic considering Engels' injury record over the last three seasons, with shoulder and knee problems ruling him out for long periods.