Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has admitted that there is a “danger” of Jonathan Walters leaving the club at the end of the season.
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Walters will be a free agent when his current contract runs out at the end of the season and he had a transfer request turned down as contract talks stalled and bids from Norwich City came in at the end of the last transfer window.
Stoke have offered Walters a one-year contract extension, but Walters is reportedly after an additional year.
“It’s the length of contract that is the issue”. I do believe there’s still scope to return to the table – I hope there is.
“I’m hopeful we will get to a point where we can sit down again and find a few common ground”.
Hughes now has his eyes set on a Wembley final in the League Cup and, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all being knocked out of the competition this week, the Stoke boss said that it gives his side a “better chance to progress” to the final.
Speaking before the game against the champions in the cup Hughes said that he knows Shawcross needs games and his captain is desperate to play against Chelsea. I don’t think he anticipated he would have to go to 120 minutes in his first game back, but he came through it, and showed his qualities both in terms of his playing ability and his leadership that we have probably lacked on occasions.
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“We’re pleased to have him around the group, moaning and groaning like he does!” said Hughes.
