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Stoke centre back Ryan Shawcross has quelled all speculation linking him away from the club, and has said that he is very happy at the Britannia Stadium. The young defender has been linked with an exit recently but moved quickly to distance himself from all stories and dismissed them as just hearsay.
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Shawcross has made 152 appearances for Stoke City and wants to make many more. He remained sanguine about all the rumours, and said that it was part and parcel of being a young player in English football. He revealed that the Stoke chairman had decided not to sell him this summer, and he was consequently looking forward to next season. Speaking to English media outlet Sentinel, he said-
“I suppose if you are linked with clubs it shows you are doing well,”
“But I am a Stoke player, I have signed a contract here and I am happy here.
“The chairman has said the club aren’t going to sell me. I don’t want to leave and I am looking forward to the new season.
“Any young player in the Premier League is going to have speculation written about him, but it doesn’t bother me.”
Shawcross has certainly had a mixed Stoke career so far. Initially joining for a loan spell from Manchester United, he greatly impressed and secured a 2 million pound permanent deal in 2008. He put in many strong performances at the back and moved from strength to strength as he was made club captain shortly thereafter.
But the nadir of his career came in a match against Arsenal when he went into a rash, needless, stupid as shit tackle on Aaron Ramsey and broke his leg. Shawcross left the pitch in tears and got public goodwill and sympathy from many quarters. He also refused to change his playing style despite having already broken Francis Jeffers’ leg earlier and making similarly brainless lunges on other players.
Shawcross will be gearing up for European football with the Potters next season as Stoke qualified for the Europa League this season, when they reached the FA Cup final in May. So he will get the chance to pit his wits against the very best strikers in Europe, which is a chance he wouldn’t want to forego. All things point towards him staying on at Stoke unless some club comes up with a huge offer that makes it impossible for the Potters to refuse.
