Like many clubs, Stoke City is still actively working on transfers as the summer window nears its close. The Potters have already added six new players to Steven Schumacher’s squad, with the goal of avoiding another struggle against relegation in the Championship this season. However, alongside these new signings, the club has also faced the departure of several players from the Bet365 Stadium. The most recent player to leave Stoke City during this transfer period is Mehdi Leris.
Winger’s departure from the Potters confirmed
Last summer, Mehdi Leris made a permanent switch from Italian club Sampdoria to Stoke City’s Bet365 Stadium. During the 2023/24 season, he featured in 33 matches across all competitions for the Potters, contributing three goals and three assists.
Despite having two years remaining on his contract, Mehdi Leris’s time at Stoke City has come to an early end, as it was confirmed on Tuesday that the winger has returned to Italy to join second-tier side Pisa.
The decision to let Leris go was not an easy one for Stoke, as the club’s sporting director, Jonathan Walters, admitted they hadn’t intended to part ways with the 26-year-old this summer. However, with Leris’s departure now finalized, there is a strong case to be made that securing one of their other transfer targets has become even more crucial for Stoke City.
Brighton man being chased by clubs including Stoke City
A recent report from The Athletic indicates that Stoke City is actively pursuing a loan deal for Andrew Moran, an attacking midfielder from Premier League club Brighton. However, Stoke faces stiff competition for the 20-year-old’s signature, with Bristol City and several other Championship clubs also expressing interest in him for the upcoming season.
Given the setback of losing Mehdi Leris, a player they were keen to retain, Stoke now finds themselves in a position where securing Moran’s loan has become even more critical.
Moran is already familiar with the Championship, having spent last season on loan with Blackburn Rovers.
| Andrew Moran 2023/24 Championship stats for Blackburn Rovers – from SofaScore | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 35 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Expected Goals | 3.92 |
| Shots per Game | 0.8 |
| Shots on Target per Game | 0.2 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Pass Success Rate | 79% |
| Dribble Success Rate | 51% |
Andrew Moran’s prior experience at the Championship level suggests he is well-equipped to make an impact if he returns to this tier. Notably, many of his standout performances last season came when he played as a right-winger, a position where Stoke City now finds themselves lacking following the departure of Mehdi Leris. This makes securing Moran’s services even more crucial for Steven Schumacher’s side.
Bringing Moran in would provide Stoke with the much-needed cover on the right wing, particularly since the club has already witnessed his capability at this level. Additionally, two of Moran’s former Blackburn Rovers teammates, Niall Ennis and Sam Gallagher, are now part of the Potters’ squad. Their familiarity with one another could help them all settle in quickly and maximize their contributions to the team.
Moran’s versatility also means he could fill various attacking midfield roles, offering more than just a replacement for Leris on the right wing. This further underscores the importance of this potential deal and what he could bring to the Potters.
Securing Moran would also prevent rivals like Bristol City from strengthening their squads, which could be pivotal for Stoke when they face these competitors. This is particularly relevant given that Stoke has already missed out on one target, Sinclair Armstrong, to Bristol City. All considered, moving swiftly to sign Moran could go a long way in alleviating the disappointment surrounding Leris’s exit.