Stoke City might consider loaning out one of their young strikers, Emre Tezgel, this year. Tezgel spent the latter part of last season with MK Dons in League Two, where he made a notable impact.
At just 18 years old, Tezgel scored three goals in 15 appearances for MK Dons after joining them in January. Prior to this, he had an impressive start to the Premier League 2 campaign with Stoke City’s under-21 team.
The forward, born in Burton-upon-Trent, has been part of the first-team squad during the pre-season. However, the recent addition of Sam Gallagher and the January signing of Niall Ennis have made it more challenging for Tezgel to secure a place in the team.
| Stoke City’s Opening 2024/25 Championship Fixtures | |
|---|---|
| Coventry City | H |
| Watford | A |
| West Bromwich Albion | H |
| Plymouth Argyle | A |
| Oxford United | A |
| Hull City | H |
With many transfers still expected in the window, Tezgel might end up playing in the lower tiers of the EFL again this season. Steven Schumacher has suggested that the 18-year-old could benefit from gaining more experience and playing time in a senior squad elsewhere.
Stoke City verdict issued on potential Emre Tezgel temporary exit
While it is crucial for Tezgel to be loaned out, Stoke City must prioritize the club’s short-term goals before determining his destination. The Potters have several young players who might leave beforehand, but given Tezgel’s high potential, Schumacher may view his situation as more urgent.
Sam Harrison, the Stoke Fan Pundit, also believes that Tezgel should spend the season away from the Bet365 Stadium.
“Emre Tezgel is a young lad, and he played quite a few times during pre-season,” Sam said whilst speaking to Football League World.
“We’ve got quite a few of the Academy lads that have played during pre-season, the likes of Nathan Lowe, Sol Sidibe, Jaden Dixon and Freddie Anderson, all players that have shown their quality and why they are in and around the first team.
“But with Tezgel, I just feel like because of pre-season and what happened last season, he probably is going to go out on loan, and I think it’s just a matter of waiting for us to bring in another striker, and then he’ll be loaned out.”
Emre Tezgel tipped to be future Stoke City starting striker
Although Tezgel scored only once in every five games during his loan spell in Buckinghamshire last season, he is expected to improve significantly over the next year if he receives regular playing time.
In 2021, when he was just 16, Tezgel was linked with moves to Premier League giants Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United, indicating that his potential has been evident for several years. This interest from top clubs highlights the promise and talent of the young forward.
“He was on loan last season at MK Dons and got a few goals as well. So, I think he’s a real good player, and he’s got a lot of quality,” Sam added.
“He scored against Chester in our pre-season twice, so he’s one of those where he has got a lot of quality and I think going to a League Two side could be really, really good for him.
“He can then come back to Stoke in the future and be ready to lead the line. I think out of them all he’s the one that I’d say is up there for being loaned out to really enhance his development.”