Butland and Ndiaye head Stoke clear-out
ENGLAND goalkeeper Jack Butland and £14million January signing Badou Ndiaye will lead an exodus of up to a dozen players at Stoke City this summer if the club are relegated from the Premier League.
Stoke manager Paul Lambert has promised an overhaul of the squad regardless of which division City play in next season but yesterday’s goalless draw at Anfield means relegation is certain unless the club win their remaining two games and other results go their way.
Butland, Wales international Joe Allen and Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri are the likely high-profile departures from the Bet365 Stadium while Senegal midfielder Ndiaye, a recent arrival from Galatasaray, has a buy-out clause to protect all parties in the event of relegation. Charlie Adam, Stephen Ireland and Glen Johnson will not be needed in the cut-and-thrust of the Championship while forward Eric Maxim ChoupoMoting could also be sold to reduce the wage bill after signing on a free.
Jese and Kurt Zouma are due to return to their loan clubs, while Lambert is refusing to pick Ibrahim Afellay and Saido Berahino because of their attitude during the relegation battle.
Stoke, 12 games without a win, are now relying on other results going their way to extend their 10-year stay in the Premier League. ‘If they do, it will make the last couple of games interesting,’ said Lambert.