Newcastle United have named Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross as their number one target to sign in the summer according to a report from The Independent.
The Magpies are currently 2nd in the Sky Bet Championship are getting closer and closer to a return to the Premier League. This is why the club are already preparing for life in the top tier of English football and are considering what players they will need to sign to make sure they don’t make a quick return to the Championship.
And while head coach Rafa Benitez has been happy with the performances of his centre-backs Ciaran Clark and Jamal Lascelles this season, he wants to add more Premier League experience to their back line upon their return. That’s why their number one target following promotion is set to be Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross.
The 29-year-old defender has been at the Britannia Stadium for almost ten years after joining them from Manchester United, making himself a fan favourite as Stoke were promoted to the Premier League and made themselves a mainstay of the division. However his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2018 and Stoke are yet to make any move to get him on a longer deal.
This is where Newcastle are hoping to step in. They are set to offer Stoke a sizable sum, a sum they wouldn’t get if Shawcross was to walk a year later, and tempt Shawcross with a move to St James Park with a long-term deal at the club.
