Pulis desperate to keep Huth

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has urged ‘integral’ defender Robert Huth to commit his long-term future to the Britannia Stadium club.

The German international has just over a year left on his existing deal after negotiations broke down earlier this year, and Pulis is determined not to lose a key asset.

Talks over a new deal are said to be imminent, with the club’s board preparing to re-open discussions within the next couple of weeks.

“We are desperate to keep Robert at the club and hopefully we can reach an agreement with him soon,” Pulis told the Daily Mirror.

“He’s been an integral part of what we’ve done here and it’s always important to look after the players.”

The former Chelsea man has featured 44 times, in all competitions, this season having been bought from Middlesbrough for six million pounds in 2009.