The agent of Jack Butland has explained the goalkeeper's decision to sign for Stoke City.

Gary Mellor explained why Butland joined Stoke ahead of Chelsea, Liverpool and a number of other top clubs.

"Obviously it was well documented that we turned down Chelsea," Mellor said. "We turned down other top-four teams; there probably wasn't any of the big six that didn't show an interest.

"I had a meeting with Liverpool about Jack, and (Liverpool's managing director) Ian Ayre said the only player Steven Gerrard has ever picked up the phone and called them to sign was Jack when he was in the England squad in Poland and Ukraine last summer.

"That shows how highly thought of he is, and I think Stoke have got an absolute steal."

- thanks to 6 Towns Radio's sports show Boots Bats N Balls