Stoke City winger Matthew Etherington believes Ryan Shawcross' future lies beyond the Potteries.
The Stoke captain has been linked with Chelsea, Tottenham and former club Manchester United.
Etherington said: "Ryan is different class. In a couple of years he will be playing for a top four club. He is very quick, he reads the game well and he has got ability on the ball.
"The longer we hold onto him the better for this football club because he is that important to us. But you have got to be sensible and realise that he is good enough to play at one of the top four.
"Hopefully it won't be too soon, but I am sure that it will happen."
