Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross has been linked with a move to Newcastle United.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes
Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has told The Express that the club will open contract talks with defender Ryan Shawcross amid speculation linking him with a move to Newcastle United.
Shawcross, 29, has been a pillar of the Stoke side for almost ten years now, having joined the club from Manchester United back in August 2007, initially on loan before winning a permanent move.
The giant defender has racked up nearly 400 appearances for the Potters, and was named club captain by Tony Pulis back in 2010, making him one of the most important figures at the bet365 Stadium – despite recent injury problems.
Shawcross is now heading towards the final year of his contract with Stoke, and The Independent reported on Wednesday that Newcastle United are hoping to sign Shawcross upon their anticipated promotion back to the Premier League.
It was stated that Magpies boss Rafael Benitez wants to land an experienced, dominant centre back to build his team around, and with Shawcross potentially heading into the final year of his contract, Newcastle may have been sensing a bargain.
However, the rumours have been met with a predictably stern response from Stoke manager Mark Hughes, who is under real pressure to get a result when the Potters take on Hull City this weekend.
Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente in action with Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross
Hughes has told The Express that the club will open talks with Shawcross – as well as other players – in an attempt to them down to new deals, stating that it ‘makes sense for everybody’.
Hughes added that the rumours of a move to Newcastle are ‘pure speculation’, suggesting that Stoke would put up a real fight to keep their skipper at the club into next season and beyond.
“We’re looking to sit down and re-contract him, along with others,” said Hughes. “That would make sense for everybody. Talk of a move is pure speculation,” he added.
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