Stoke City

Transfer Rumours: Swansea City’s Interest in Stoke City Midfielder?

01/07/2024 Raymond 0

Swansea City is reportedly one of three Championship clubs interested in acquiring Stoke City midfielder Josh Laurent. Laurent, who is in the final year of his contract with Stoke, is also drawing attention from clubs abroad. Despite the interest, it seems unlikely that Stoke will want to part ways with Laurent, given his importance to the team. Any potential move would depend on Laurent’s desire to leave, and there has been no indication that he is looking to transfer this summer, especially to another Championship club.

For Swansea, central midfield is an area that needs strengthening, although there are more urgent positions to address. While a midfield pairing of Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton lacks dynamism, and Joe Allen is expected to play a limited role due to fitness concerns, a move for Laurent seems improbable given his value to Stoke and Swansea’s constrained transfer budget. In conclusion, while the rumors of Swansea’s interest in Laurent are intriguing, they appear to be speculative at this stage. Only time will tell if any concrete developments will emerge.

Stoke City bring in ‘winner’ and the Zoom call that sealed transfer

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

Stoke City head coach Steven Schumacher was notably impressed during a Zoom chat that played a pivotal role in finalizing the signing of Ben Gibson. Both Schumacher and Gibson were in sync when the defender interrupted his family holiday to discuss his potential move to Stoke City. Gibson, a 31-year-old center-half, joins Stoke as a free agent following his successful tenure at Norwich, where he helped the team reach the play-offs in the last year of his contract. Schumacher was keen on bringing in experience and leadership to his squad, which had lacked players aged 30 or above starting 20 or more league games in the previous season.

Schumacher shared his thoughts on Gibson, highlighting his strong references and impressive career, which includes numerous promotions from the Championship. He emphasized the importance of leadership and a winning mentality within the dressing room, qualities that Gibson exemplifies. Schumacher’s positive external references about Gibson further reinforced his decision, portraying Gibson as a dedicated professional and a winner—traits crucial for the team’s growth.

Stoke City, left-back lesson and the change Gareth Southgate must make for England vs Slovakia

29/06/2024 Raymond 0

Stoke City legend Mike Pejic is optimistic about Steven Schumacher’s recent transfer moves and extends a warm welcome to new signing Eric Bocat. Pejic is excited to see what Bocat will bring to the squad, particularly appreciating the presence of two natural left-sided players with Bocat and Enda Stevens. He emphasizes the importance of balance in any football system, whether it focuses on possession or counter-attacking.

Pejic also shares his thoughts on the England team for Euro 2024, noting their struggle to find a left-footed player for the left-back role during the tournament. He stresses the need for left-sided players to stretch teams and utilize the width of the field effectively. Reflecting on the tournament, Pejic was impressed with Georgia’s spirit, teamwork, and forward-thinking approach, highlighting their ability to work the ball out of tight areas with good support and execute swift counter-attacks.

Turning to England, Pejic envisions a lineup with Watkins up front, Saka and Foden on the flanks, Kane playing off the front, and Bellingham linking up with Kane. Rice would provide defensive stability, while Walker and Shaw support from the back. Pejic believes this balanced lineup can produce exciting and winning football, urging Gareth Southgate to trust these players against Slovakia in the last 16. He is confident that if England adheres to these principles, they can progress through the knockout stages and potentially win the tournament.

Stoke City injury blow as midfielder ruled out for four months

27/06/2024 Raymond 0

Ben Pearson, Stoke City’s 29-year-old midfielder, faces a four-month recovery period following surgery for a persistent hamstring injury. Initially hoping to avoid surgery, Pearson ultimately required the procedure, which will likely see him miss the first ten games of the season and all pre-season preparations. Pearson, who joined Stoke permanently last summer from Bournemouth for a fee under £500,000, had a challenging season plagued by injuries, limiting his league appearances to 22.

Steven Schumacher, expressing his frustration, noted that Pearson had been working with the club’s physios all summer, but an undiagnosed hamstring issue necessitated the surgery. Schumacher remains hopeful for Pearson’s recovery and emphasized the importance of focusing on rehabilitation. Despite Pearson’s absence, Stoke City boasts a robust midfield lineup, including Josh Laurent, Wouter Burger, and emerging talent Sol Sidibe. Recent signings like Viktor Johansson and Eric Bocat further strengthen the squad. Schumacher remains pragmatic, urging Pearson to concentrate on his rehab to ensure a strong comeback.

Former Stoke City and West Ham Star Available As Free Agent This Summer

26/06/2024 Raymond 0

Sead Haksabanovic, former winger for Stoke City and West Ham United, is expected to leave Celtic this summer following an unsuccessful loan spell at the Bet365 Stadium. The Montenegro international spent the 2023/24 season on loan with Stoke City, where he made only 22 appearances and scored a single goal. Reports from Swedish outlet Fotboll Direkt suggest that Stoke City is not interested in signing Haksabanovic permanently, and Celtic is seeking a fee of £2.2 million for him. With head coach Brendan Rodgers not seeing a future for Haksabanovic at Celtic, Swedish champions Malmo FF are reportedly nearing a deal to bring him back to Sweden. This potential move underscores Haksabanovic’s stagnation since his £2.7 million transfer to West Ham United in 2017.

Sheffield United rival Stoke City in race for Norwich City man

25/06/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield United and Stoke City are both competing to sign Norwich City defender Sam McCallum. Sheffield United, preparing for their return to the Championship after a last-place finish in the Premier League, and Stoke City, who finished 17th last season, are keen on the 23-year-old left-back. McCallum played 29 Championship games for Norwich City last season and is set to become a free agent at the end of the month, making him an attractive target for both clubs. Despite financial constraints due to takeover talks, Sheffield United might still pursue McCallum if the terms are favorable.

Stoke City transfer latest: Eric Bocat deal, Timothy Fayulu linked, Hibernian star eyed

21/06/2024 Raymond 0

Stoke City is reportedly close to signing Sint-Truiden defender Eric Junior Bocat, according to TeamTalk and StokeOnTrentLive. The 24-year-old Frenchman, who has previously played for Lille and Mouscron, joined STVV in 2022 and was a target for Leicester City earlier this summer. However, he now looks set to finalize a move to the Potters. Bocat, primarily a left-wing-back, is expected to compete as a left-back under Steven Schumacher’s system, providing competition for 33-year-old Enda Stevens, who………………….

What Nathan Jones told Chris Cohen about Stoke City as summer homework revealed

21/06/2024 Raymond 0

Chris Cohen has been diligently preparing for his new role at Stoke City by reviewing a dozen matches from last season and requesting clips and data from analysts. This proactive approach is aimed at ensuring he hits the ground running when the players return for pre-season training in just over a week.

Cohen has recently joined Clayton Wood as the assistant head coach, a position offered by Jon Walters. He reunites with Steven Schumacher, with whom he spent two years studying for the pro licence coaching badge. Prior to this, Cohen spent six months as assistant head coach at Lincoln City, contributing to a turnaround that saw them push for a spot in the League One play-offs. Now at Stoke, he is utilizing the off-season to meticulously plan for the upcoming challenges.

Xherdan Shaqiri says how he wants to be remembered after pipping Cristiano Ronaldo to feat

20/06/2024 Raymond 0

Former Stoke City forward Xherdan Shaqiri scored a remarkable goal against Angus Gunn at Euro 2024, securing a draw with Scotland and propelling Switzerland into the knock-out stages. This stunning strike not only ensured Switzerland’s progression but also marked Shaqiri as the first European to score in each of the last six major tournaments, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo. Reflecting on his goal, Shaqiri said, “I wanted to take full advantage of the opponent’s mistake. Then I saw that the goalkeeper was standing far out and thought to myself: ‘Come on, flick it in now.’ I was glad that I didn’t injure my knees in the celebration. But of course, it was an important goal. And a very nice one too.”