Stoke City have been issued with a hands-off warning in their pursuit of Reading defender Matt Mills, reports Clubcall. The Potters have been linked with a bid for the centre-back, but Royals manager Brian McDermott has made it clear he wants to keep hold of his captain. Mills caught the eye in Reading's run to the play-offs last season and City boss Tony Pulis is expected to make an offer for the 24-year-old, who is into the final 12 months of his contract. Midlands rivals Wolves are also being linked with a £3million move, while Premier League newcomers Swansea are reported to be interested too. But McDermott has spelt out his intention to keep Mills at the club. He told the Bracknell Forest Standard: "He (Mills) wasn't in the team when I got the job. He has grown in the last year as a player and as a person. "I made him skipper and at centre-back we have some really good players. It is a good group here and the group is everything to me. "We want to keep our best players. There will be interest in a lot of our players for sure. When it comes about and is concrete then clubs will speak. If something comes then we will make a decision on what's right for the club. "From my point of view we want to keep this group together."
