Lyon striker Fred has revealed he is mulling on an offer from Premier League side Stoke as he seeks a way out.

Fred's contract with the Ligue 1 champions expires at the end of the season and the 25-year-old has previously expressed a desire to return to Brazil this month.

The remainder of Fred's Lyon deal is worth 5million euros, though, and so Fluminense claim they will instead sign him in the summer as they cannot afford to pay off his contract now.

However, Fred, who has struggled to get games under Claude Puel this term, is determined to secure a move this month and so Stoke have made an approach to take him until the end of the season.

Fred told French newspaper Le Parisien: "I do not know whether I will leave Lyon in January or not yet. I've heard the club would like to see me leave, but it is my decision. And if a club signs me to join at the end of my contract, and to stop Lyon from making money on me, then that is my problem.

"I can confirm I am considering a proposal from Stoke City. They are not Arsenal or Manchester United but they are still a good Premier League club.

"And at least they have shown me more respect with their offer than (Lyon president Jean-Michel) Aulas has made me at Lyon."

Stoke have already strengthened their forward line with the capture of James Beattie from Sheffield United this month, but Tony Pulis is determined to land one final option despite already having Ricardo Fuller, Dave Kitson, Mama Sidibe and Richard Cresswell.

He failed in a loan move for Charlton's Andy Gray this earlier week, has had scouts looking at Lens' Aruna Dindane, and has been linked with a number of other forwards in the past few weeks.

Fred would represent a major coup for Stoke if Pulis can persuade him to make the move. He has scored 34 times in 81 games for Lyon and has five in just nine starts for Brazil.