Philip Wollscheid: Stoke to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Philipp Wollscheid played four times for Bayer Leverkusen in the 2013-14 Champions League

Stoke City are set to complete the loan signing of Germany international defender Philipp Wollscheid from Bayer Leverkusen until the end of the season.

Wollscheid, 25, has recently been on loan at Mainz in Germany's top tier, but Stoke have "agreed the terms of a deal," according to boss Mark Hughes.

A 6ft 3in centre-back, Wollscheid played twice for Germany in 2013 and is likely to finalise the move next week.

"He has superb quality and is a very good footballer," said Hughes, 51.

"He has moved for decent money in the past and he has played for the reigning world champions, so he has real good pedigree," added the Stoke manager after his side's FA Cup win over Wrexham.

Wollscheid joined Leverkusen in 2012 and made 51 league appearances as well as four in last season's Champions League before moving out on loan.

He will join club captain Ryan Shawcross, Marc Muniesa, Marc Wilson, Robert Huth and Geoff Cameron as central-defensive options for Stoke, who sit 11th in the Premier League.