Stoke City star Liam Lawrence has made it clear that he wants to move to Celtic and is hoping the two clubs can agree on a price as soon as possible.

The 28-year-old is contracted to Stoke until 2013 after penning a new deal in July 2009, but it appears that his days at the Britannia Stadium are numbered.

The former Sunderland midfielder admits that there are other interested clubs but he has set his heart on moving north of the border.

“Celtic are a massive club and I just hope Stoke and Celtic can come to an amicable agreement for me,” he said. “I hope I don’t get priced out of a move. If Stoke are looking for £2million, that sounds about right – and will be a good deal because I only cost £500,000.

“My agent says there could be another couple of clubs interested, but I’ve said to him I’d love to go to Celtic because I don’t think there’s a bigger club for me.

The Republic of Ireland winger admits he would love to play in front of 60,000 people at Parkhead and the chance to feature in the Champions League is also appealing to the former Mansfield man.

Lawrence says he has been speaking to fellow Irishman Robbie Keane, who spent the second half of last season on-loan with the Bhoys from Tottenham, and received nothing but glowing reports about the club from the man who scored 14 goals in 16 appearances for the Glasgow giants.

Stoke City winger Matthew Etherington has continued to voice his frustration over his current contract at the Britannia Stadium.

The 28-year-old had a good season with the Potters, who secured another season in the Premier League, but talks with the club over extending his deal are becoming difficult.

Etherington is annoyed that he is not being offered the same wages some of his team-mates and the former West Ham United player believes he deserves a similar deal.

He said: “I’m a little bit surprised we are so far away in terms of the figures.

“The club is run very well and it is a tight ship, so I can understand where they are coming from.

“But I don’t think I’m being unreasonable. I’m up there with the top scorers at the club, I’m in the top 10 assists in the Premier League, and I think if I was to sign a new contract then I should be up there with the best players,” he added.

Contract talks have been ongoing for months with no conclusion to the problem of a fitting wage for the winger in sight.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will be looking to add to his squad this summer and will hope that he does not lose the services of Etherington who has been a key player for the side in recent seasons.

Boss Tony Pulis has hailed the spirit in the Stoke dressing room, but admits he needs to add more attacking quality to his ranks during the summer.

The Potters moved back into the top half of the table with a 1-0 win over Europa League finalists Fulham on Wednesday night, thanks to a second-half goal from Matthew Etherington.

A place in the top 10 will be sealed if Stoke can win at Manchester United on the final day, but failure could see Blackburn or Fulham finish above them.

Pulis says the victory is another sign that all is well in the dressing room, despite reported fall-outs with the likes of James Beattie and Dave Kitson.

The Stoke boss stated: “After losing by seven at Chelsea, the response of the players to get clean sheets against Everton and here against Fulham says a lot for the spirit of the dressing room.”

But with just 10 goals on their travels, Pulis is quick to admit that Stoke need to improve up front next season.

He added: “To get 25 clean sheets in two years in the Premier League is a great base, but we do need to score more goals, I understand that, and get a bit more quality in the final third.”

Tony Pulis has told his Stoke players it is crucial they finish as high as possible in the Premier League, so the Potters can potentially boost their coffers by £3million.

Pulis has guided the club to top-flight safety for a second successive campaign, but he is keen to point out that nobody will be putting their feet up while there are still 15 points to play for.

The Stoke boss has already revealed that he is keen to beat last season’s tally of 45 points, while a top-half finish could see them net £3million more in prize money.

Speaking to the Sentinel, Pulis admitted: “That is a lot of money in anyone’s language and it should act as a big motivation for us all.

“I’ll certainly be getting that point over to the players, because we have a responsibility financially to the club’s owners, as well as a responsibility to our supporters of course.”

Stoke are currently on 43 points and have five matches remaining, with the Potters facing games against Bolton and Everton at the Britannia Stadium and away trips to Chelsea, Fulham and Manchester United.

Stoke City’s aspirations for the rest of the Premier League season have been dealt a blow as striker James Beattie is set to miss a number of games.

The former England striker has undergone surgery on his knee cartilage and as a result will be out for six weeks.

Beattie has not been a regular for Stoke this season, making only seven appearances and one Premier League start, and was involved in a high-profile bust-up with manager Tony Pulis earlier in the campaign.

Stoke are currently firmly embroiled in mid-table and face Tottenham and West Ham before the end of March, but encouragingly for fans they are well above of the relegation battle which exists in the Premier League.

Pulis has confirmed Beattie will be out for a lengthy spell as he faces rehabilitation following surgery on the problematic knee.

“James has just had an operation to have a knee meniscus cleared up. He’ll be six weeks out. We’ve got two months left so it’s all about his rehab now,” said the manager.

Pulis recently stated his belief that Stoke are now getting respect from the rest of the Premier League as they get close to achieving the 40-point mark which should secure their top flight status for a third season in succession.

Tony Pulis has confirmed ‘there is a chance’ that Matthew Etherington could be fit for Stoke‘s home clash against Arsenal this weekend.

The winger suffered knee ligament damage in the 1-1 FA Cup draw against Manchester City earlier this month and missed the Premier League home draw against Roberto Mancini’s last week as well as Saturday’s 2-1 win at Portsmouth.

However, Pulis has revealed that Etherington is now back in light training and could be back in time to face the Gunners at the Britannia Stadium, as the Potters look to emulate their 3-1 FA Cup win over Arsenal last month.

The Stoke boss told the Sentinel: “There is a possibility for the weekend and we’re obviously keen to get him back as soon as we can. He’ll want to pick up where he left off before the injury, and an in-form Matthew Etherington will clearly be a big boost to us.”

Stoke remain unbeaten in 2010 and have now gone seven Premier League games without defeat – losing just three times at home this season.

Tony Pulis claims it entertains and amuses him when he sees other teams attempt to copy Rory Delap’s throws after his side was berated about using it for so long.

The success that comes from Delap launching the ball into the box was epitomised again this weekend as Ricardo Fuller got on the end of one to get Stoke a draw against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Pulis has heard people in and outside the game criticise Stoke’s style of play since they were promoted to the Premier League two years ago, but is now forced to see a number of other clubs copying the tactics which has been used do successfully at the Britannia Stadium.

The Stoke boss claims Delap’s long throws are not their only tactic as they “create other chances and opportunities” during games.

Pulis said: “It’s funny though, every time I turn the TV on now someone is throwing it long.”

“Gareth Bale does it for Tottenham and I watched Southampton’s FA Cup tie against Portsmouth and one of their lads was picking it up and throwing it into the box,” he added.

“People do it. It is just that we might do it better than others.”

Stoke’s aspirations for the season could have been dealt a real blow as it is feared winger Mathew Etherington may have suffered medial ligament damage.

The 28-year-old was stretchered off in the City game and is due to have a scan to reveal the true extent of the injury.

Tony Pulis has revealed Stoke are no nearer to completing a move for England goalkeeper David James from Premier League rivals Portsmouth.

The 39-year-old’s proposed switch to the Britannia Stadium until the end of the season fell through last week because of an issue over wages.

World Cup hopeful James will not be involved when Stoke face Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday because the two clubs were unable to reach an agreement before noon on Friday, but Pulis remains confident a deal can be resurrected.

“It’s exactly the same as last week. We’re in a situation where the clubs are trying to do a deal,” said Pulis.

Asked if City chief executive Tony Scholes was any further in his negotiations with Pompey counterpart Peter Storrie, Pulis replied: “There’s been another hold up.

“I’ll certainly be doing my damnedest to bring in David James, and if I can’t then I’ll look for another goalkeeper.”

Stoke City striker James Beattie could be on his way out of  the club during the January transfer window following his well-publicised bust-up with manager Tony Pulis.

Pulis and Beattie allegedly had to be separated in the dressing room after scuffling in the wake of Stoke’s 2-0 defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Stoke announced an internal investigation on Monday, but sources claim Beattie has not yet apologised to Pulis.

The former Southampton and Everton hitman has 18 months left on his current contract and could fetch over £5million if he was to be sold.

The 31-year-old arrived at the Britannia Stadium from Sheffield United in January and scored vital goals which enabled Stoke to stay up.

Tony Pulis has confirmed he has held talks with Ryan Shawcross aimed at securing the talented defender’s future with Stoke.

England Under-21 centre-back Shawcross has emerged a key figure in the heart of the Potters defence and reports had suggested Pulis would struggle to keep hold of the former Manchester United man in the January window.

Britannia Stadium boss Pulis revealed Shawcross had confirmed to him he wants to stay at Stoke and the 22-year-old is expected to sign a new and improved contract.

“I have had long discussions with Ryan over his future and I am delighted that he sees his future here,” Pulis revealed to the club’s website.

“There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Ryan, but we have made it quite clear that he is going nowhere and we are delighted to be in a position now where we can secure his future.”

Shawcross joined Stoke from Old Trafford in January 2008 after an impressive six-month loan spell with the Potters.