Premier League Giants Linked With Stoke Stopper Jack Butland
Reuters / Carl Recine
If reports in Daily Mirror are to be believed, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are queuing up to sign Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland in the summer transfer window.
There is no denying that all four clubs could be in the hunt for a new signing in goal this summer due to concerns over their keepers, be it due to poor form or interest from other clubs.
Chelsea and Manchester United could lose their respective number one, with both Thibaut Courtois and David De Gea on Real Madrid’s radar.
On the other hand, Arsenal could do an upgrade in this area, with their veteran shot-stopper Petr Cech not looking as reliable as he was during his peak years at Chelsea, while Manchester City are in dire need of bringing in a new keeper to provide competition for the struggling Claudio Bravo.
Potters’ boss Mark Hughes has already warned Butland not to leave, but the England International, who has four years left on his contract, said that he is enjoying being in the centre of attention.
“I see it as a really positive thing. It is nice to be recognised, I must be doing something right. But I also have to remember I have been out for a year now and I just need to get back to doing what I love doing and the rest will take care of itself,” said Butland
Jack Butland joined Stoke for just £3.5m back in January 2013, following his exploits in the Championship with Birmingham City. After Begovic’s departure to Chelsea in 2015, Mark Hughes made the Englishman his No.1, and Butland instantly caught the eye with man of the match displays against Norwich and Newcastle.
After producing many stand-out displays for the Potters last season, the 24-year-old was named Stoke City’s player of the year at the club’s end of season awards ceremony.
Butland was in splendid form for Stoke until he suffered a season-ending ankle injury whilst playing for England against Germany in March 2016. And after being out for nearly 13 months, Butland made his competitive return against Swansea in the month of April.
Written by Pragadeesh Shanmugam 
