Alan Pardew's call for Newcastle's summer recruitment to have a distinctly British flavour may have been answered after we were linked with a move for Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross. Beefing up his domestic quota before the start of next season his paramount for Pardew and the Daily Mail claim the Magpies will compete against Manchester City for Shawcross' signature, with the Premier League champions also keen to increase their assignment of 'homegrown' players. The Potters Player of the Year has been priced at a reported £12 million, which is a mere drop in the ocean for City but a heavy expenditure for us and it's inconceivable that Mike Ashley would sanction that sort of outlay for a centre back that exceeds his age threshold. Plus, given a straight choice between Newcastle and Man City it's highly unlikely that Shawcross would opt for a move to Tyneside ahead of a club that could offer him Champions League football and a regular shot at the title. People will point out that joining us would guarantee the 26-year-old regular first-team football although, whilst that is strictly true, we feel the prospect of silverware would compel him to join City regardless. Anyway, for the time being we'll chalk this one down as pure speculation and that it's gratifying that we are being linked with a defender of Shawcross' calibre.
