Tony Pulis is targeting Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross if Middlesbrough get promoted to the Premier League.
Tony Pulis is already planning for life in the Premier League with Middlesbrough and is starting to draw up a shortlist of potential targets.
One player that is very much on it, according to the Daily Star, is Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross; whom Pulis knows well from his own time at the Bet365 Stadium.
Shawcross celebrated a decade with the Potters at the start of this season, having been signed by the current Boro manager back in 2007 – originally on loan from Manchester United before it was made permanent the following January.
Since then the 30-year-old has played 402 games for Stoke in all competitions and 310 times in the English top flight, with this experience in particular being what Pulis is interested in.
The Welshman wants to add personnel who know what it takes to compete in the top tier, with the Teessiders aiming to return there this season, currently sitting in sixth position in the Championship.
Despite Shawcross’ strong affiliation with his current side, there is every chance he could leave if they are relegated this term – which remains a realistic prospect with them 19th with seven matches left to play.
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