He’s only been with them for five years but we somehow can’t picture Jonathan Walters playing for anybody other than Stoke.
The versatile forward has been a loyal servant at the Britannia Stadium since signing with Tony Pulis’ Potters in 2010 but he almost left the club in the summer transfer window.
Norwich had made a number of approaches for the Republic of Ireland international who ended up handing in a transfer request but, low and behold, Walters is still sporting the candystripes every week as he runs his boots into tatters up and down Premier League touchlines.
And Stoke manager Mark Hughes spoke on Thursday about the issue with Walters and his contract which runs up at the end of the season.
Walters has been in impressive form as of late, scoring this cracker against Chelsea on Tuesday night, and the player reportedly wants to be offered a contract extension to 2018 while Stoke are only willing to commit to 2017.
“There is (a danger of Walters leaving),” Hughes said. “But it is not what I want and is not what I feel Jon probably wants.
“There is scope to return to the table — I’d like to think so anyway.
“The issue is the length of contract — it is not about our feelings about Jon’s ability. He is playing exceptionally well.
“I would like to think we can come to some decision positively not only for ourselves but for Jon himself, because I think he wants security and to be settled in his work.
“I’m hopeful we will get to a point where we can sit down again and find some common ground.”
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