Tony Pulis admits Stoke won’t stand in Ryan Shawcross’ way should Manchester United or another top four club come calling.
The Potters star is tied down to a deal at the Britannia until 2014, but some recent impressive performances for Pulis’ side has led to speculation about his future.
The 25-year-old moved to Stoke from United in 2008 when the Red Devils’ squad was heavy on central defenders.
Now that situation has changed dramatically and reports suggest Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to recapture the England Under-21 star.
And Potters chief Tony Pulis admits he’s ‘hoping and praying’, rather than expecting, the defender will see out his career with the club.
"If we do a deal there will be no one more pleased than myself,” he said of the six-year contract offered to Shawcross.
"We took Ryan as a young lad and he has grown with the football club, he has been fantastic for us, and the club has been fantastic for him as well.
"Obviously any new deal has to be right for the club and for Ryan, and fingers crossed we can get it done, and we push on from there.
"We're hoping and praying Ryan will be a Stoke player for the rest of his life. But if a top-three, top-four club came in, and they paid the money, there is no way in a million years we would be able to prevent Ryan from going.
"It is a natural progression for every sportsman to play at the top level, but what we want to do is ensure we have him for the rest of his career because we're really happy with him.
"You hope it [his new contract] gets sorted out nice and quickly, but we recognise and realise there is still a lot of time for it to be done, not just weeks and months.
"But then he has to do the best he possibly can for himself and his family. He has two lovely little kiddies and he has to look after them, and that's important.
"But I don't honestly think the club would do anything but look after Ryan because they have fantastic respect for him, as a lad, not just as a footballer."
Source: talkSport
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