Stoke City News 24/7Writer: Charlie Bennett 
Date:Monday August 10 2009
Time: 5:38PM
UK time is: 12:52:45
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Is Rafa after Shawcross?
Stoke are preparing to brace themselves for a tempting bid from Liverpool for young promising centre half Ryan Shawcross. The young Potter was a revelation last season and has been the subject of rumours linking him with a move to Tottenham and West Ham.
This though is a lot more worrying because although Ryan has committed himself several times over the past few months the lure of champion`s league football is likely to tempt him away from the Brit. The Reds have been dealt a hard hand over the past few weeks with Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel all looking very unlikely to be fit to start the campaign which begins this Sunday away at Spurs.
Rafa must have been impressed last season when Shawcross thwarted Liverpool twice in two 0-0 draws, two results that Reds fans blame for their unsuccessful attempt to claim the Premier League trophy.
Realistically though this is a wake up call to make us realize we will eventually lose Ryan to a much more high profile club. Stoke as we know aren`t the richest club in the world and if Liverpool are prepared to pay £6-7million then Shawcross might be on his way.
But....
If Ryan takes time out to think the move through he will realise that a season playing Carling Cup football awaits him as main premier league and champions league football is doubtful with 3 players ahead of him in the pecking order.
That leaves him with the simple question
Money or Football?
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Your Comments
Since when has football ever been top of the list for Premier League players? Money rules in this game, IMHO
BoothenP
Shawcross would do well to stay at Stoke. I'm a Liverpool fan but, realsitically, when Carragher, Agger and Skrtel are fit, he won't even make the bench.
Aamir
Do I sense a hint of cynicism in this article. As a Spurs fan, I read a lot of cynical articles written by fellow fans and the journos. While I have all the respect in the world for Stoke City, it's fans and the club's recent achievements, I think your penultimate paragraph is key. Last season, it looked to me like you've got a very talented young centre half on your hands, who could become a top player, if he's in and around a squad of other top players. So I think there's a great deal more than money on offer at a higher profile club. While I agree that he's unlikely to see much Champions League action if the other 3 are fit, I do think that competing for a place against Skrtel and Agger and being in the same team as Carra could only make him a better player, even if he plays a total of say 20 games this year, as opposed to 40 or so with Stoke. Personally, I still believe there's every chance he'll stay another year (and hope he does, as I'd like to see Stoke do well), but you have to face facts that he will probably eventually leave and it may well not necessarily be just for financial gain. Although who are we kidding - if our career lifespan was from 18 - 36 yrs old and we were offered triple the money elsewhere, how many of us would turn that down in the name of loyalty? I'm a loyal person but somewhere along the line I'd have to consider what's best for myself and my family!
wayne king
Hes a cracking player, I wouldnt be surprised to see him move on
a bit of loyalty wouldnt go miss though
ChrisHandy
wayne, your right we do have a potential high quality player and im sure he would develop at Liverpool with the high quality players there but i think Charlie is trying to make a point that the best way to become a greater player is by playing regular football not going on to a top club and sitting on the bench and getting plaid 50k to do so
redandwhitestripemad
I don't see the point of this article, talking up a transfer out of the club
Sindbad
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