Butland rejected City, Chelsea

England keeper Jack Butland says he turned down both Chelsea and Manchester City as he did not think he would play enough.

The 20-year-old signed for Tony Pulis’ Stoke side in January before being loaned back to Birmingham, and says that at this stage in his career he is looking to develop his skills and did not feel he would get enough games to do that with either of the Premier League giants.

“I had the chance to speak to Chelsea but I didn’t feel like I needed to,” he told The Times.

“It’s a fantastic club and it would be a great honour to play for them at some stage, but I’ve got a chance to join a club where I feel I can better develop my game and take it to the next level, which I didn’t feel at some of the other clubs I rejected.

“I turned Manchester City down about a year ago. Again, I was flattered, but Joe Hart is their undisputed number one and he was a main factor.”

Birmingham are 14th on the Championship table, but have only kept six clean sheets in 37 games this season.