No buy-out clause in Bojan Krkic contract - Mark Hughes
Stoke boss Mark Hughes has dismissed talk of Bojan Krkic having a buy-out clause in his contract and stressed the playmaker is not about to leave the club.
It has been reported the Potters are in danger of losing Bojan during the transfer window that has just opened due to a release clause of just B#10million.
But when asked about that on Monday at his press conference to preview Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg home clash with Liverpool, Hughes said: "There's no clause.
"There's no intention or desire from us as a club (for the player to be sold) or from Bojan or his people from the conversations I've had - he's very happy and we are very happy with him.
"I think it's just a normal January story. It's just a little big of mischief making I think.
"Obviously there is a lot of speculation and I think every club gets that in terms of their star players.
"That is what we are getting at the moment, but there's a lot of misinformation."
Stoke head into Tuesday's match on the back of a defeat having lost 2-1 at West Brom on Saturday, but that was only the fourth reverse in their last 15 Barclays Premier League games.
And Hughes said: "Ideally we want a winning advantage to take into the second leg at Anfield.
"What we don't want obviously is to be out of the tie, but we don't feel that will happen - we are very strong at the moment at home and playing exceptionally well there.
"We are giving good teams like Liverpool real problems. Teams have to be at their best to withstand us at home."
This is Stoke's first League Cup semi-final appearance since 1971-72, the season in which they claimed what is the only piece of major silverware in their history by winning the trophy.
And Hughes added: "It is a game of significance for us, and these are the games we want to be involved in in the future as well - hopefully it is the first of many.
"The anticipation of the game is something we are working with and enjoying."
Stoke will have midfielder Geoff Cameron available after his red card from the weekend was rescinded.
The only injury concerns are defender Phil Bardsley, a doubt having pulled up in training on Monday, and goalkeeper Shay Given, who remains sidelined by a knee problem.
Meanwhile, Liverpool may be experiencing something of a crisis in front of goal but manager Jurgen Klopp will not be taking any short cuts to solve it.
The 22 goals they have scored in 20 league matches is the lowest in their history and with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings all injured the Reds are operating with one fit striker in Christian Benteke.
Although the Belgium international scored goals in the two matches immediately after Christmas he drew a blank in Saturday's defeat at West Ham and has so far not convinced.
Klopp was hopeful Sturridge would be fit for this week's double-header against Stoke and Exeter in the FA Cup after a month out with a hamstring injury, but the player has now suffered another minor setback in training and will not be ready.
"Daniel had some problems, not serious, but could not make a session and we had to wait a day," said Klopp, who has regularly referred to the last month as effectively pre-season for Sturridge.
"Because he didn't have one session with the team it was not the usual plan for this week.
"It is how a pre-season can be. Some little things happen and we have to handle this.
"It is not a row of sessions and we say 'Now we are here and go...'
"I will pick him when he is ready, I will not hold him back.
"What Daniel has to do at this moment is hard work to be prepared for the things we make in a football game. He had the last complete pre-season a long time ago.
"In pre-season we load our bodies with strength, energy, all we need for the games and then the problems start.
"It would be easy for me to say 'Come on, let's try, we have problems, we don't score enough goals, let's see what will happen' but we have to wait and be patient."
Injuries continue to dog Klopp with Jordan Henderson likely to sit out the semi-final first leg on Tuesday after a recurrence of a foot problem which caused him to miss the West Ham defeat.
Source: PAR
