STEVE Cotterill was today standing by his phone in Spain awaiting Gifton Noel-Williams' decision on a proposed move to Burnley.

But the Clarets hopes of landing the striker on a free transfer have been boosted after his agent slammed the offer of a new contract with Stoke City as "insulting".

Fellow Championship sides Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield Wednesday, together with League One outfit Oldham, have also reportedly expressed their interest in Stoke's out-of-contract striker.

But Cotterill, who met Noel-Williams for talks on Friday before jetting off to Spain to watch two games over the weekend, remains hopeful of landing his fourth summer target in the next 24 hours.

The former Watford striker, who has scored 23 goals in 91 appearances in the Potteries, also has the option of remaining at the Britannia Stadium after a new 12-month contract was hurriedly tabled following a glut of eight goals in nine games late last season.

However, just months earlier, the former England youth international was thrown on the transfer list after scoring four goals in 31 appearances.

And Noel Williams' agent, Gary Mellor, has offered the clearest indication yet that his player will be spurning City's offer to seek better terms elsewhere.

"There is a 12-month deal on the table from Stoke which, to be frank, is insulting for a player with 80-odd games under his belt over the past two seasons," insisted Mellor.

"There has been interest from other clubs and that's not surprising when you consider Gifton's playing record in his two years at Stoke -- and his scoring run in the last few months of last season."

He added: "We had a very productive meeting with Burnley and we have discussed terms with Steve Cotterill, though nothing has been finalised yet."

A move to Burnley would reunite Noel Williams with former City strike partner Ade Akinbiyi, while the Clarets also have former City pair Wayne Thomas and James O'Connor on their books.