Newcastle look like missing out on signing Ryan Shawcross.
According to a report in the Stoke Sentinel the Stoke midfielder is focussed on winning another contract to stay on at the Britannia Stadium.
With a year left on his current deal Newcastle have been keeping an eye on developments with Shawcross having the sort of Premier League pedigree that Rafa Benitez is looking for.
The midfielder has made over 300 league appearances since joining Stoke from Manchester United and is widely respected as one of the most consistent players in his position in the Premier League.
Although signing a midfielder isn’t an immediate priority for Benitez he is keen to pick up any bargains with Stoke now facing a dilemma over Shawcross.
With the clock ticking towards the end of his deal he can sit tight knowing that from January he can negotiate his own deal if Stoke fail to match his expectations.
