Football: Stoke plot Michael Mancienne transfer on loan from German side Hamburg |04 January 2014

Former Chelsea starlet Michael Mancienne is prepared to return to English football and could play anywhere across the back four or as a holding midfielder for manager Mark Hughes.

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes wants to bring Mancienne back to the English Premier League – in a loan deal from Germany’s Bundesliga side Hamburg.

Former Chelsea defender Mancienne is prepared to return to England after two years as his German club are looking to bring in new talent. Mancienne followed Chelsea’s former technical director Frank Arnesen to Hamburg in 2011 where he signed a four-year deal with the German side and has made 37 league appearances for them.

The 25-year-old, who was an England Under-21s regular in his time with Chelsea, can play across the back four or as a defensive midfielder and would be a huge asset for the Potters.

Manager Hughes is working within a tight budget and also looking to buy a striker, but bringing in Mancienne on loan would work for him.

Mancienne managed only five appearances for Chelsea in six years after emerging from their youth system and was loaned out to QPR twice and Wolves three times. He played for England at five different age-group levels.

Mancienne is eligible to play for the Seychelles national team as his father, Mike Mancienne, is a former Glacis and Seychelles international midfielder who won the sportsman of the year title in 1984.

He rejected the chance to play for Seychelles in 2006 in favour of his native England.

However, in November 2008, Mancienne stated that he would play for Seychelles if he doesn't get to play for England by the time he reaches 25.

Stoke City drew 1-1 with Everton on Wednesday and are ranked 11th in the 20-team league standings with 2 points (five wins, seven draws and eight defeats).

S. N.