Liverpool Line Up Bid For Shawcross

Liverpool are reportedly lining up a bid for Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross as Kenny Dalglish looks to strenghen his defence ahead of the forthcoming season. Having seen his side concede 12 goals in four pre-season friendlies the Anfield manager is said to be keen on signing the centre back as the Merseyside club look to claw their way back into the Premier League top four.

Shawcross has been a virtual ever present at the Britannia Stadium over the past four seasons and has helped conduct Tony Pulis’s well marshalled defence and the Potters boss is sure to fight to keep the former Man United man from leaving the club.

However the England hopeful, who this month confirmed he would not consider a Welsh call up, may feel that a high profile move may help his chances of securing his first senior international cap. The uncompromising defender is valued at around £12m and despite guiding Stoke City to a Europa League spot, Shawcross may feel the time is right to make a step up.

Dalglish has a number of issues with the centre backs he can currently call upon. Danish international Daniel Agger has his fair share of injury problems and defensive mainstay Martin Skrtel has missed the entire pre-season programme with a calf problem and both Jamie Carragher and Sotirios Kyrgiakos are over 30 years of age and therefore there is a very real need to beef up options at the back.

Having spent upwards of £50m this summer Liverpool are now looking to solidify their defence and with that in mind brought in Roma keeper Doni to keep number one custodian Pepe Reina on his toes and Kenny Dalglish is hoping that Shawcross will be tempted by a move to a club pushing for a Champions League spot.

Pulis Wants More Signings Fast

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is stepping up his search for new signings and hopes to make at least one addition in the next few days.

Pulis has cash to spend and is targeting quality over quantity but he has only managed to land Jonathan Woodgate on a free transfer from Tottenham.

Carlton Cole, Cameron Jerome, Wilson Palacios and Scott Dann remain targets and Pulis is keen to get bodies on board as soon as possible after he was forced to use defender Ryan Shotton as an emergency striker against Hajduk split last night.

"We are threadbare at the moment," said Pulis in the Stoke Sentinel. "Having to bring Ryan Shotton on and play him up front showed we have to bring reinforcements in, and the club is doing its best to achieve that.

"Fingers crossed we can bring one or two players in over the next few days."

Pulis hopes to have the players on board before next week's return leg in Croatia, where the Potters will be defending a 1-0 lead following Jon Walters' winning goal last night.

Stoke vs Hadjuk Split

The last time Stoke City were in a European competition was 37 years ago. The game's on goal scorer, Jon Walters, wasn't even born. The goal made a good memorable night for the players and the fans. Stoke are now one game away from the Europa League's final qualifying stage!

It has been a long time since Stoke faced Ajax in the Uefa Cup in 1974, but by the third minute the Brit was filled with hope that we would see more European football this season. Walters's cool header came just after 3 minutes of game time. Matty Etherington recieved a pass from Delap from the left and then sent the all through the air and Walters calmly heads it into the corner of the goal.

Seconds later Stoke thought they had gone 2-0 up with a goal form Jones but it was ruled offside.

On the same day Stoke were struggling to a pre-season defeat at Aldershot last weekend, Split held Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona to a deserved goalless draw. But Stoke's hard,  punishing pre-season fitness programme in Austria had payed off, with the Stoke manager determined to ensure his first experience of European football as a manager was a win.

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Split didn't look like a side that could win in the first half, with Begovic not being troubled and Stoke could of increased their lead going into half-time with several good attempts. 

Kenwyne Jones forced a quick save from Danijel Subasic with a header from Etherington's free-kick before Shawcross came so close five minutes before the break when he nodded on a classic Rory Delap throw, with Hrvoje Vejic swiping the ball off the line.

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It soon was an hour into the match and Begovic finally was made to work when he saved a shot from Marin Tomasov.

Despite the flares set off by Split fans, there was City didn't set another bang as score a second goal. Even with Stoke's youth full-back, Ryan Shotton, being bought on in attack. Stoke won the game and has an advantage over Split in the next tie in Croatia.

Match details

Stoke (4-4-2): Begovic 7; Wilkinson 7, Shawcross 8, Huth 8, Wilson 7; Pennant 6 (Whitehead 75), Whelan 7, Delap 6, Etherington 8 (Shotton 88); Jones 7, Walters 8. Booked: Huth. Subs: Sorensen, Collins, Pugh, Diao, Woodgate.
Hajduk Split (4-5-1): Subasic 6; Oremus 6, Vejic 7, Maloca 5, Lima 5; Tomasov 6, Inoha 5, Brkljaca 4, Andric 6, Anas Sharbini 3; Vukusic 4 (Vukovic 64). Subs: Kalinic, Ljubicic, Ahmad Sharbini, Kukoc, Dens, Saric.
Referee: B Rafati (Germany).

Shawcross Will Not Be Sold

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis insists there's no chance of selling skipper Ryan Shawcross.

He has insisted he is not for sale.

"We won't sell our best young players. We don't have to. We're a club that is solvent. We think this is a good football club that can push on," he said.

"Fingers crossed more young players will want to join us."

Etherington Warns City Of Hadjuk Split (Video)

STOKE star Matthew Etherington has been on YouTube to check out tomorrow night's Europa league opponents Hajduk Split, and admits: "We'll need a win to take back to Croatia."

"A mate texted me to say it was on," he said, "and they looked a good team from what I saw.

Having spied on Hajduk's goalless draw with Barcelona at the weekend, Etherington believes Stoke are in for a tough time in the first leg of their third qualifying-round tie at the Britannia Stadium (7.45pm).

"Hajduk had plenty of chances, and Barcelona had players like Iniesta and Villa on the pitch, so they are a very good team.

"The atmosphere in Split looked brilliant, and I was glad I watched it because there's no taking Hajduk lightly.

"From what I have seen, it's going to be a tough game for us and we will need a lead, any lead, going to Croatia.

"We need to improve on our performances in pre-season, but I'm sure we will."

Etherington acknowledged that Stoke's pre-season form and results had been poor, but remains confident they will be ready for their Europa League debut.

Hadjuk had people watching City's back to back losses last week

"They've probably gone home thinking it will be a walk in the park for them.

"But we are a different animal at the Britannia and it will be all guns blazing.

"We've had a really tough pre-season with a lot of hard work, and it takes a couple of weeks after that to get back into the swing of things.

"A lot of work in a short space of time takes its toll and you need a few days for the body to recover to see and feel the benefits.

"Now I think we are as ready as we can be. We would have liked a bit more time, but the fitness is more or less there now.

"But we also know we have to improve performances because what we are playing against on Thursday is a step up in class.

"It's important how you play tactically. Our manager is usually very good on that and will know how to play on their weaknesses."

Crouch Up For Sale At £9m

Tottenham are willing to sell Peter Crouch for £9 million.

The Sun says Newcastle asked about Crouch and Harry Redknapp said he wanted to recoup the fee paid to Portsmouth two years ago.

That is likely to prove too big a stumbling block for Toon, who would not want to pay that high a price for a 30-year-old.

And with Crouch wanting a four year deal, boss Alan Pardew has been forced to think again.

Sunderland are long time admirers of the beanpole striker and had hoped to muster a swap deal involving Asamoah Gyan earlier this summer.

But with Steve Bruce landing wonderkid Connor Wickham, the Black Cats' attention has turned elsewhere.

Stoke City and boss Tony Pulis have also inquired about Crouch whose height would be useful in their much-maligned aerial attack.

And the 6ft 7in target man has even been linked with a return to his boyhood idols QPR - although Hoops boss Neil Warnock admits Crouch is out of his price bracket.

Man City To Bid For Sorensen

Manchester City are eyeing Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

The Daily Mail says City are keeping an eye on Sorensen's situation at Stoke.

They see the unsettled Dane as cover for Joe Hart.

City are giving a trial to former Germany international Timo Hildebrand, 32.

Pulis sets his sights on 'four or five' new signings

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is keen to bring in "four or five" players this summer in order to keep his squad competitive.

So far only defender Jonathan Woodgate has arrived after being released by Tottenham.

Pulis has been linked with a number of players, not least Woodgate's former team-mates Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios, Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko and Birmingham's Scott Dann, but he has not been able to make real headway.

The Potters boss is keen to strengthen his squad to maintain the progress they have made since arriving in the Barclays Premier League in 2008, since when they have not finished below 13th.

He also has to factor in the possibility of an extended European campaign ahead, although that will become clearer in the next 10 days when they play Hajduk Split in the Europa League third qualifying round.

"If by the end of August we haven't got four or five players in who can come in to the side and improve us, I will be very disappointed," said Pulis.

"It's massively important not to be caught standing still, so we definitely want to be active if we can.

"I think we need to shake things up a little bit for the sake of the team so I will be trying to do that."

That means some departures are likely from the Britannia Stadium.

"We have fringe players here who need to be playing football games now because they are footballers," he told stokecityfc.com.

"I have had them here for a while now, and whilst they are a fantastic group, they are obviously chomping at the bit to get out there and play games."

Shawcross Determined To Play For England

Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross will not consider playing for Wales as he is determined to secure his place in the England team.

The Chester-born centre-back played in Welsh schoolboy sides having been raised in Flintshire but once he left education there was no provision for him to continue in that national set-up.

FIFA changed the rules in 2009 to allow anyone with five years of compulsory education in the specified country to be eligible to represent that nation.

But by then the 23-year-old had already made his mind up about playing for England and although he has yet to represent his country despite being named in Fabio Capello's squads he remains determined to make the breakthrough.

"I've not considered Wales. I have spoken to Gary Speed a couple of times and made my plans clear," Shawcross told BBC Sport.

"He is a very good, young manager and I have a lot of respect for him.

"But I made my decision a long time ago when the current rule wasn't in place that I could play for Wales.

"Obviously he wants me to play for Wales but I made a decision and I'm going to stick with it.

"Hopefully I can prove I am good enough to get into the England team.

"I'm not at the moment so I don't think I'm too wanted there.

"It is tough to get in as there are a lot of world-class players in my position.

"It is good Wales want me but this rule wasn't in place when I made my decision.

"My decision might have been different if the current rule was in place at the time but these things happen."

Pulis Wants Crouch and Palacios

COULD Tony Pulis be about to win his spurs as a prime Premier League wheeler-dealer?

Well he had an expert mentor in old boss Harry Redknapp, and it is to the Tottenham boss he is claimed to have turned to boost his Stoke squad this summer.

The Sentinel broke the news last week that Pulis was taking giant strides to bring Macc lad Peter Crouch to the Brit for a fee in the region of £10m, but the Daily Star claims he is actually sizing up a double Spurs swoop also involving Honduras international midfielder Wilson Palacios.

The former Wigan man is just the sort of combative midfielder Pulis loves, and he is hoping to persuade Redknapp to part with a player he bought for £14m just two years ago.

Not that Pulis will want to part with that sort of cash, but with Crouch thrown in for good measure, the Stoke boss could nevertheless be about to break the bank at the Brit.

It will no doubt be a relief to Stoke chairman Peter Coates to learn that two other alleged Pulis targets could be about to slip through the manager's grasp.

Former Congleton High School pupil Daniel Sturridge is a man in demand this summer ... and Stoke are reported to have already offered Chelsea £6m for the England under-21 striker.

However, the Blues are desperate to land Spurs playmaker Luka Modric, and the Daily Star claims Sturridge has been offered to Redknapp in addition to the £27m Chelsea are willing to pay to take the Croatian to Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, the Sunday Mirror reckons Leeds United starlet Max Gradel has snubbed interest from the Potters – and nearly every other Premier League club – to stay at Elland Road. The £5m-rated marksman clearly has some issues ... apart from apparently wanting to stay in West Yorkshire, the 23-year-old also reckons United are a "massive" club.

Well they were once, Maxie ... but even Jonathan Woodgate can only just remember when.

Maybe Gradel's one to steer well clear of, TP.

Talking of deluded players, how about Stoke target Scot Dann?

The highly-rated Birmingham centre-half must have headed the ball once too often as he is apparently demanding £35,000-a-week to join the Potters.

According to the Daily Mirror, he is insisting on earning more at the Brit than Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross, who is said to take home £28,000 each week.

If Pulis isn't prepared to break his wage structure to satisfy the demands of West Ham striker Carlton Cole, it seems unlikely he will risk squad harmony for Dann.

Dann Want More Money Than Shawcross To Join Stoke

Stoke City have hit a brick wall for their push for Birmingham defender Scott Dann.

The Potters are chasing Dann and his teammate Cameron Jerome.

The Mirror says Stoke have agreed a fee for Dann but he wants £35,000-a-week to join a club whose captain, Ryan Shawcross, currently gets £28k per week.

Striker Cameron also is on Stoke's shopping list.

Pulis coy on Juventus man Mo Sissoko

STOKE boss Tony Pulis has refused to rule out the possibility of a multi-million pound swoop for Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

Pulis has been linked with an £8m move for the former Liverpool midfielder as part of his summer spending programme.

He declined to comment directly on any interest in the 26-year-old Mali international, who was a Liverpool player between 2005 and 2008, but did vow to import a clutch of new faces before the end of the August transfer window.

"I won't comment on individual players," he said of Sissoko, an international team-mate of Mama Sidibe, "but I will say I'll be disappointed if we don't bring four or five players in.

"We need to shake it up for the good of the team, and there's fringe players here who need to go out and play football.

"I'm looking for new players all over the pitch. I'm just looking for better players."

Begovic Refuses To Accept Being No.1

Asmir Begovic refuses to accept he is Stoke City's No1.

Despite Thomas Sorensen's failure to play a single friendly so far because of a slight back complaint, Begovic insists he is taking nothing for granted.

"The best person to ask is the manager," he told The Sentinel, "because he decides everything as far as I'm concerned.

"Of course, I am looking to play and be in the team, and hopefully I have done enough in pre-season to stay in the team.

"So I like to think I will start, but it isn't a question I can really answer."

Stoke close in on £7million Juve enforcer

Stoke are set to complete a £7million move for former Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko.

The Mali international, who left Anfield for Juventus for £8m in January 2008, is now surplus to requirements in Turin.

Juve are ready to sell and a deal could be completed swiftly, giving the Potters an experienced midfielder enforcer ahead of their Europa League campaign.

Stoke’s only concerns are physical - Sissoko suffered a knee injury in February that ruled him out for the rest of last season.

The 26-year-old has also been tracked by Hamburg, Paris St Germain, Villarreal and Real Sociedad but appears keen on a return to the Premier League.

If a thorough medical finds no underlying problems, he could be unveiled before the end of the month.

Stoke Plan To Bid For Crouch

Stoke City are chasing Spurs striker Peter Crouch

The Daily Mail says Stoke manager Tony Pulis wants to place a £10m bid for Tottenham’s Crouch as he attempts to land an experienced Premier League striker.

Pulis has missed out on West Ham’s Carlton Cole and seen talks over Birmingham’s Cameron Jerome stall.

Stoke are understood to have failed to match wage demands in both instances and will have to rethink if they are to sign Crouch, who is on around £70,000 a week.

Stambolzeiv Want's To Join Stoke

Aussie midfielder Robert Stambolziev is trialling with Stoke City.

Stambolziev was on the scoresheet in Stoke's 6-0 victory over Newcastle Town last night.

The left-sided midfielder is tied to Panathinaikos  and is hopeful of winning a contract at Stoke.

The Whittlesea-raised youngster came through the youth system at Bristol City.

In last night's friendly, Kenwyne Jones added a brace while Jermaine Pennant, Glenn Whelan and Jonathan Walters got the others.

Woodgate, Stoke vs Newcastle & Hadjuk's Assisant Manager

STOKE City manager Tony Pulis is confident he will be able to unleash new signing Jonathan Woodgate for the first time this weekend as the England defender begins his long road back to full fitness.

However, the Potters are unlikely to consider the former Champions League semi-finalist for next week's Europa League clash with Croatians Hajduk Split

Woodgate, restricted to just four games in two seasons because of groin trouble at Tottenham, has successfully negotiated his first few training sessions under the watchful eye of Stoke's medical team.

And now Pulis wants to include the 31-year-old in friendlies at Brentford on Friday, or Aldershot on Saturday.

"He's had two or three days' training, but has still got a lot of strength work to do," revealed Pulis. "It will be interesting to see how he does.

"He wants to get going with the other players. The good thing is he came down to Wales with us last weekend for the games at Newport and got to know the other lads. We expect him to be a good experienced player for us."

Pulis played two trialists, Aussie-born winger Robert Stambolziev and Darlington striker Michael Smith, during last night's 6-0 stroll at non-league Newcastle Town.

"They both did smashing," said Pulis, but gave no clues about his future intention for the pair.

He continued: "It's no secret we need to bring players in to boost the squad. We're hoping to do some deals over the next few weeks."

Pulis said he has most of his team already pencilled in for the first competitive game of the season, against Hajduk Split at the Britannia Stadium in seven days.

"There are one or two positions I'm still not sure about, but 90 per cent of it is in my mind," he disclosed.

Stoke were watched last night by Hajduk Split's assistant manager, Yontcho Arsov, as the Croatians step-up their homework ahead of their first leg visit next Thursday.

He revealed after the game that Hajduk were already planning for Rory Delap's throws as they hope for a long run in the Europa League.

"Of course I know about Delap," he grinned, "and I think the throw-in is pretty dangerous.

"Robert Huth I know, of course, because he is German and I am half German too.

"Then there is Jermaine Pennant, who played with Liverpool, and Jonathan Woodgate, who played with Real Madrid.

"We have only three internationals at Hajduk Split; from Montenegro, Japan and Croatia."

Arsov said he was suitably impressed by Stoke, observing: "In the second half it was easy for the Stoke players, who showed they have great players and good technical skills.

"It might be useful for us seeing this game, but we will have a better picture of Stoke City after watching their two friendly games on Friday and Saturday."

Story from The Sentinel P41

Dann Names His Price

Scott Dann has told Stoke he wants £35,000-a-week if he decides to leave Birmingham.

Blues are low on cash following their relegation from the Premier League and under pressure from their bank, HSBC, to bring in funds.

Dann looks certain to follow Craig Gardner, Roger Johnson and Barry Ferguson out of the exit.

Stoke and Birmingham have agreed a fee of up to £16million for both Dann and City striker Cameron Jerome.

But Dann, 24, wants a sizeable salary to move to the Britannia Stadium whilst there is still interest from clubs such as Aston Villa and Everton.

Stoke have already seen a move for West Ham and England striker Carlton Cole collapse over personal terms, but in this case Birmingham are desperate to sell with owner Carson Yeung facing money-laundering charges in Hong Kong.

Yeung has promoted his 18-year-old son, Ryan, and acting-chairman Peter Pannu to the St Andrew's board.

Could There Be A Crouch Deal?

Tony Pulis is watching Crouch's availability to Spurs

Harry Redknapp may want to sell Crouch as he set's to shake up the whole Tottenham squad.

Pulis, who wants to bring in at least one new striker before the August 31 deadline, has already seen attempts to sign West Ham's Carlton Cole and Birmingham's Cameron Jerome, but both deals stopping due to personal terms.

Pulis has been a long-time admirer of Macclesfield-born Crouch, would be prepared to wait until the end of the August transfer window if needs be to get his man.

The 6ft 7ins Crouch has generated more than £30m in transfers to the likes of Liverpool, Portsmouth and Spurs over the last decade, but a current asking price of well below £10m would fall within Stoke's reach.

And Stoke could accommodate his salary within their wage structure by agreeing a higher transfer fee so Tottenham could then pay off part of his remaining contract with them.

Crouch only started 20 times last season, but was played more regularly in the Champions League with 10 full appearances in Europe.

Pulis would love to secure Crouch's goalscoring threat, and has never struggled to do business with his old mentor Redknapp.

Chairman Peter Coates declined to comment on new targets, but doesn't necessarily think the Cole and Jerome deals are completely dead.

With Stoke selling Tuncay for £4.5m in January, offloading his replacement John Carew since the end of the season, and having Ricardo Fuller and Mama Sidibe injured long-term, Coates acknowledged that at least one new striker remained a priority for Pulis.

"Yes, we would expect that to happen," he said. "We are confident we will be able to improve the squad before the deadline.

"We are working on a few things, but football is a messy business and these things take time."

Coates will have a meeting with Pulis tomorrow to discuss their on-going transfer strategy.

Pulis on Cole Deal

Tony Pulis has said  “We have spoken as a board and a management team and it’s very important that we keep our wage structure to a level.

“We have overachieved enormously over the last four years and we know that within the club. But what we don’t want to do is chase and chase and chase and put ourselves in a position that if it went wrong financially, then the club is in a bad state. That will not happen at Stoke City.

“We have never paid one player a lot more than the rest. The aim is not to do that.”

Stoke chairman Peter Coates had questioned Cole’s fitness, but West Ham hit back after stating the former ­Chelsea and Aston Villa hitman had played 43 games last season.

But Pulis, who saw his side return from a week-long training camp in Austria to gear up for the Europa League with a 1-1 draw at Newport on Saturday, admits he remains in the dark over the deal.

He said: “I’ve been away so whatever has gone on with Carlton has gone on. I prefer to do my business behind closed doors.”

Stoke Star Wants To Retire At Stoke

Striker Ricardo Fuller wants a new contract to end his career at Stoke.

The 31-year-old Jamaican international nearly joined Sunderland in January but insisted: “Of course I would like to stay.

“It’s my home. I’ve been here five years. I want to finish my career here.”

Woodgate Interview On Injuries and Future at Stoke

Woodgate speaks to Radio 5 live about his injuries and what he thinks about Stoke.