Nice are in talks with Stoke City for Giannelli Imbula.
L'Equipe says the general manager of the Ligue 1 club, Julie Fournier, is working on a loan deal with Stoke that would also involve Nice paying part of Imbula's wages.
Stoke would prefer to sell the Frenchman and recoup a substantial chunk of the £18.3m they paid FC Porto for him just 16 months ago.
However, they would consider the idea of a season-long loan with a sale option attached.
Source: tribalfootball.com