The Sun reports that Stoke City have placed a £30million price tag on goalkeeper Jack Butland. Birmingham City will receive a 20% sell-on fee, meaning they could receive around £5million, which certainly interests Garry Monk.
Butland is currently with the England national team preparing for Saturday’s friendly with Nigeria at Wembley, as their continue their build-up to the World Cup in Russia next month. After relegation, Butland is expected to leave the bet365 Stadium, but clubs in the top flight will have to pay a big price.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are one side said to be possibly keen on the international keeper. The 25-year-old has been on the books at Stoke since 2014 after joining from Birmingham, for a fee believed to be £4million. He has since built up a reputation as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe, and could even be Gareth Southgate’s first choice this summer.
Leicester City are another said that may make a move for the player. That is assuming Kasper Schmeichel leaves, which is understood to be a possibility.
New Stoke boss Gary Rowett is beginning to prepare for life without Butland, who will almost certainly leave if he does indeed have a successful World Cup. The EFL side though hold all the cards, in wanting a big fee, that may price off some sides making their move. The £30million tag has been set as this would match what Everton paid Sunderland for Jordan Pickford, which is the British record paid for a goalkeeper, after making the move last year.
