Stoke City are demanding Nice offer to pay a larger percentage of Giannelli Imbula's wages after they discovered the French south coast side can afford to shoulder the burden.
Nice want to take Imbula from the Potters on a loan deal, but the French club are keen to see Stoke continue to pay a portion of the former FC Porto man's wages.
However, Stoke have been unhappy at how much of Imbula's wages Nice are willing to bear.
According to French sports daily L'Equipe, the Premier League club have learned how much Nice paid their top earner last season, and as such, are confident they can afford to be more generous with their offer.
Stoke are keen though for Imbula to have a season in the shop window at Nice, while they would then look to sell the 24-year-old next summer.
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The midfielder is under contract at Stoke until 2021 and with the club admitting his move has not worked out, are keen to cut their losses and offload him.
Imbula has had spells with French sides Guingamp and Marseille, meaning a move to Nice would represent a return to the familiar stomping ground of Ligue 1.
He made 15 appearances in all competitions for the Potters last term.
