Stoke to keep Shawcross and Huth

Stoke City have ruled out the possibility of central defenders Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross leaving the club this summer. The duo have been in inspired form in recent years for Stoke.

"We are looking for another defender, as that is an area we feel we need to strengthen at the moment," Stoke City's director of football John Rudge told The Sentinel.

"It's nothing to do with Ryan or Robert leaving, it's because Abdoulaye Faye has left the club.

"They (Shawcross and Huth) are both good lads and good players, so you would be reluctant to do anything with them because they can be the future of this football club.

"They are also a decent age, so there's no way you would want to lose them."