Stoke battle to keep Shtaniuk

Instead of selling Shtaniuk, Stoke are looking to secure the central defender's services for a further 12 months once his existing contract expires in June 2004.

"Sergei has put in a transfer request and we have notified him and his agent that it has been rejected," confirmed Director of Football John Rudge.

"We are disappointed, as he still has 18 months on his current contract and we have been trying to negotiate a new deal since the start of the season.

"We consider Sergei to be an integral part of the club's future and our intention to maintain our First Division status.

"He is an exceptional professional and one we would not want to lose,"Rudge told the club's official website.

The terms of Shtaniuk's current contract mean the 30-year-old is part-owned by his agent's company.

City hope that a new deal would give them greater control of the player, who has been a key figure in City's defence since his arrival from Dynamo Moscow in July 2001.

He has missed just one League game this season.