Ryan Shawcross is expected to ink his new Stoke City deal next week.

The Sun says the centre-half was a January target for Sir Alex Ferguson just two seasons after leaving.

Fergie inserted an option in Shawcross' £1m switch to Stoke allowing him to buy the stopper back.

With England ace Rio Ferdinand struggling with injury Fergie was keen on sweet-talking Shawcross into a return.

But the 22-year-old defender, believes committing his future to Stoke will give him the best chance of breaking into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

He is expected to sign the deal, which will keep him at the Potters until 2013, next week.