Gary Rowett hoping to keep Jack Butland at Stoke

Stoke manager Gary Rowett has dismissed speculation linking England goalkeeper Jack Butland with a summer move.

Butland reported for pre-season training on Friday after being given extended leave by Stoke this summer.

Butland was part of the England squad which reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia and has been heavily linked with Chelsea this summer.

But Rowett told Stoke’s official website: “I don’t believe any rumours if I’m honest.

“I understand the good players are going to be linked with good clubs which is great, I get that.

“That shows the level of player we’ve got at this club.

“It shows the level Jack Butland is at as a young keeper and that those clubs might potentially look at him.”

Stoke’s 10-year stay in the Premier League came to an end in May and the Potters start their Sky Bet Championship campaign at Leeds on August 5.

And Rowett also confirmed that Butland will play in the Potters’ final pre-season game against St Pauli in Hamburg on Saturday.

Rowett said: “We’ve given him as much time off as we think we can.

“He will travel with the team to St Pauli and he’ll start the game against them because we think we need to get him some minutes with the team.”