Liam Cooper is set to be a free agent – and he could end up being a majorly important asset for the Potters.
Stoke City currently appears to be enveloped in a sense of disillusionment. Following their relegation from the Premier League, last summer presented an opportunity for the club to regroup after several seasons of being unable to contend for promotion.
Their significant investment in players back in 2018 hadn’t yielded the desired results, so the summer of 2023 was viewed as a chance to rectify those shortcomings.
Despite considerable efforts to rejuvenate the squad, highlighted by the departure of Harry Souttar to Leicester City, Stoke City’s ambitious rebuilding endeavors haven’t translated into the desired outcomes.
| Stoke City – 2023 Summer Signings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player Name | Signed From | Loan/Permanent |
| Wouter Burger | FC Basel | Permanent |
| Ryan Mmaee | Ferencvaros | Permanent |
| Joon-ho Bae | Daejeon Hana | Permanent |
| Ben Pearson | AFC Bournemouth | Permanent |
| Nikola Jojic | Mladost | Permanent |
| Andre Vidigal | Maritimo | Permanent |
| Daniel Johnson | Preston North End | Permanent |
| Enda Stevens | Sheffield United | Permanent |
| Michael Rose | Coventry City | Permanent |
| Wesley Moraes | Aston Villa | Permanent |
| Mehdi Leris | Sampdoria | Permanent |
| Lynden Gooch | Sunderland | Permanent |
| Junior Tchamadeu | Colchester United | Permanent |
| Sead Haksabanovic | Celtic | Loan |
| Ki-Jana Hoever | Wolves | Loan |
| Luke McNally | Burnley | Loan |
| Mark Travers | AFC Bournemouth | Loan |
| Chiquinho | Wolves | Loan |
Under the helm of Alex Neil, who had previously led Norwich City to promotion from the second tier, Stoke City harbored optimism despite the anticipated period required for the squad to harmonize effectively.
Despite displaying glimpses of promise during Neil’s tenure last season, the anticipated progress didn’t materialize, leading to his replacement by Steven Schumacher in December.
While Stoke City’s survival in the league is not assured, with the club still entrenched in the relegation battle, there remains the possibility of revisiting interest in a former transfer target if they manage to secure their top-flight status.