Rudge has confirmed that Stoke are on the lookout for a central defender this summer but the Potters' director of football insists any new arrival would be a replacement for Abdoulaye Faye, who was released at the end of his contract, rather than Shawcross or Huth.
"We are looking for another defender," Rudge told the Stoke Sentinel, "as that is an area we feel we need to strengthen at the moment.
"It's nothing to do with Ryan or Robert leaving, it's because Abdoulaye Faye has left the club.
"They (Shawcross and Huth) are both good lads and good players, so you would be reluctant to do anything with them because they can be the future of this football club.
"They are also a decent age, so there's no way you would want to lose them."
Stoke could face competition from a number of Premier League clubs for Dann, who Birmingham are reported to rate at ?15million, but Rudge does not expect any activity until a new manager is in place at St Andrew's.
He added: "There might be things happening at Birmingham now that they have gone down, but things are up in the air until they bring in a new manager.
"I don't think a great deal will be sorted out until that happens."
Dann's team-mates Liam Ridgewell, Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner are also on Stoke's radar this summer.
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk