This week The Daily Mail reported Stoke City boss Mark Hughes is looking at possible replacements for Ryan Shawcross, who has a year remaining on his contract. The defender is subsequently being watched by West Brom, Leicester City, and Newcastle United.
Even if Hughes’ priority for the central defence remains FC Porto’s Bruno Martins Indi, another possibility could be Spartak Moscow defender Serdar Tasci.
Russian outlet Sport Express highlighted his salary of around £3m could be a problem for Stoke City, but Spartak could be willing to let him go if they can find a replacement before the end of summer transfer window.
Spartak’s head coach Massimo Carrera has this weekend admitted there is interest from other clubs for Tasci.
Asked if the former Germany international would be leaving the club this summer, Carrera replied: “Gossip. He’s here. However, there is some chance. He is in demand. That’s a question for club’s management.”
With the uncertainty over the future of Shawcross, Stoke City may need to make a decision soon if they need to bring in a central defender. Given the impact Martins Indi made during his loan spell with the Premier League side last season, he would be the obvious choice, but Tasci remains a possibility.
