ALMOST DONE; Turkish striker set to complete move to Stoke in pounds 6m deal: Tuncay set to complete Stoke switch.

Byline: PHILIP TALLENTIRE ; ERIC PAYLOR

TUNCAY will join Robert Huth in signing for Stoke City, Boro today confirmed.

German defender Huth agreed a pounds 5m deal - rising to pounds 6m - last night and is expected to finalise the paperwork today. Tuncay held talks in the Potteries yesterday and has decided to throw his lot in with Stoke, despite initially indicating that he wanted to join a top eight English side or move to Germany.

Boro officials told the Gazette this morning that deals for both players were in the final stages of completion.

And Tuncay said today: "I remember playing at Stoke (with Boro). The fans put pressure on teams and players that come here, so now I am glad they will be supporting me!" The transfer fee is believed to be in the region of pounds 6m, but Gareth Southgate admits he's not sure how much he'll be able to spend out of Stoke's combined payment of pounds 11m.

He said: "It's impossible to know what the situation will be until we know who is definitely leaving.

"I'll wait to see what develops, but I have a long list of potential targets in all positions, if we are in a position to bring anybody in."

Naturally there are only four days remaining in which to bring in new players, though Boro continue to be strongly linked with free agent Danny Webber.

The former Sheffield United striker has turned down a contract at Swansea City, with Welsh newspapers reporting that he is coming to Teesside.

So Southgate will have no new faces at Ashton Gate, and will be without Huth and Tuncay.

Southgate has reassured Boro fans that the club can cope with the loss of Huth and Tuncay.

The German's decision to sign for Stoke City has left a huge gap in the Boro backline, forcing the manager into re-shuffling a defence that hasn't been breached in the Championship this season.

Like Tuncay, Huth was always one of the players that was expected to move on during the summer and,had Emanuel Pogatetz and Chris Riggott both been available at the start of the season, it's questionable whether he would have featured this term. But his formidable new partnership with David Wheater has led many fans to re-evaluate their opinions of the once injury prone defender and the fact that relative Premier League newcomers Stoke are cherry-picking Boro's top players has left fans angry and frustrated. Southgate, however, believes the club's defensive options will still be very strong, especially when Riggott and Pogatetz are fit next month. On his move Huth said: "It was a no-brainer to come here once I found out they wanted to sign me.

I'm grateful for the chance to play in the Premier League again." Jonathan Grounds is favourite to take over from Huth at Bristol City tomorrow, but soon the homegrown defender will have more established players breathing down his neck. Southgate said: "We know that Robert was a big, big player for us, but it's a temporary thing as far as I am concerned. In any case we lost Luke Young three days before last season started, played David Wheater at right-back and beat Spurs. We have a lot of character in the dressing room. Whichever team we put out in any situation I expect it to be determined and capable of keeping the team in the top two positions in the league."

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DEAL NEARLY DONE: Tuncay is expected to complete a move to Stoke today after Boro agreed a fee with the Premier League club Picture by DOUG MOODY