Newcastle have “registered an interest” in Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross, according to the Daily Telegraph but the Potters are looking to head off bids from the Magpies and other suitors by offering the 29 year old a new contract.
Stoke don’t generally offer new deals before a player enters the last 12 months of their contract, but speculation about Shawcross’s future has increased after the defender’s recent comments to the Stoke Sentinel which suggested he is happy for speculation to continue.
The centre back denied interest from Newcastle but qualified his denial by saying he wasn’t moving to the North East “at the moment.” It could be a power play by Shawcross to get an improved deal from the Potters, and the Telegraph report that the centre half is “relaxed” about his future.
The newspaper also report though that along with Newcastle, foreign clubs are monitoring the Stoke defender’s situation with a view to offering the player a contract when he becomes available next January.
