England keeper Jack Butland signs new Stoke deal
Friday 20 March 2015 17:38, UK
England goalkeeper Jack Butland has signed a new four-year deal at Stoke.
The 22-year-old, who is currently Roy Hodgson's third-choice keeper for the upcoming European Qualifier against Lithuania and the friendly with Italy, saw his previous deal expire in 2017.
But he is now tied to the club until 2019, despite failing to make a single appearance in the Premier League this season, playing five times in the cups for Stoke and six games on a loan spell at Derby last autumn.
Butland signed for Stoke for £4m from Birmingham City in 2013 but has played second fiddle to Bosnia international keeper Asmir Begovic.
He has made just nine appearances for the Potters overall, only three in the Premier League.
Butland, who began his career as a trainee at St Andrew's, has also spent time on loan at Barnsley and Leeds, and has one senior England cap.
He is currently first choice under Gareth Southgate with England U21s, for whom he has 27 caps, and is set to play in their friendly against the Czech Republic next Friday.
But he will still have to dethrone Begovic at club level, with Stoke boss Mark Hughes saying: "We are absolutely delighted that Jack is staying here with us. He is regarded by many people in the game, ourselves included, as one of the best young keepers in the country.
"It was always our intentions to tie him down to the club long-term because we feel he is somebody that can really push Asmir Begovic for a starting role in the side.
"He isn't somebody who wants to sit around and serve as understudy. His ambitions are to keep improving and challenge for a regular starting position.
"Our intentions are to get Asmir to sign a new contract too, but talks with him won't take place until the summer.
"He wants to remain focused on the task in hand, which is picking up as many Premier League points as possible. We are comfortable with that.
"Asmir is really happy here and is pleased with the progress that we, as a club, are making. We feel we tick a lot of boxes for him and hopefully in the summer the talks will all be positive."
