Mark Robins is overseeing his first pre-season as Stoke City manager and has plenty of items on his to-do list
It is encouraging that Stoke City’s first three summer signings appear to have improved, expanded, and strengthened the starting lineup.
Maksym Talovierov and Sorba Thomas are permanent additions at a young age, and while there are no guarantees in the transfer market, all indications suggest that Stoke would be extremely unlucky if they did not make a significant effect over the next season and beyond.
Divin Mubama will play his first regular season of senior football. Stoke fans are naturally suspicious of first-time loans, regardless of anyone’s youth football background, but at this point in Stoke’s Financial Fair Play cycle, it appears like this is the most likely option to finding someone within budget.
First loans do not provide a guarantee. The 20-year-old centre-forward definitely has great potential, and it will be interesting to watch how close he comes to fulfilling it. Liam Delap arrived at the bet365 Stadium a year early, but he had been injured for the majority of the previous year. Man City youth fans believe Mubama is more prepared for the Championship.
More arrivals and possibly a departure or two will determine the size of the remaining transactions to be completed before the deadline on September 1.
Fit Bosun Lawal as a new signing.
Bosun Lawal shared images of himself in pre-season training with the caption: “We’re back, and I’ve got a back this time.”
It’s fair to say that 2024/25 must have been a frustrating season for the 22-year-old, who began by training with the Republic of Ireland senior squad before joining Stoke from Celtic for just under £1 million to build on a standout individual year on loan at Fleetwood Town and test himself in the Championship.
Include Bosun Lawal as a new signing.
Bosun Lawal posted photos of himself during pre-season training with the remark, “We’re back, and I’ve got a back this time.”
It’s fair to say that 2024/25 must have been a frustrating season for the 22-year-old, who began by training with the Republic of Ireland senior squad before signing for Stoke from Celtic for just under £1 million to build on a standout individual year on loan at Fleetwood Town and test himself in the Championship.
Add Bosun Lawal as a new signing.
Bosun Lawal shared images of himself at pre-season training with the caption, “We’re back, and I’ve got a back this time.”
It’s fair to say that 2024/25 must have been a frustrating season for the 22-year-old, who began by training with the Republic of Ireland senior squad before joining Stoke from Celtic for just under £1 million to build on a standout season on loan at Fleetwood Town and test himself in the Championship.
Trio at a crossroads.
Crossroads rather than T-junctions because there may be more than two alternatives for what happens next.
Ben Gibson, Ben Pearson, and Sam Gallagher have all demonstrated their ability to be effective in the Championship, but they are all coming off campaigns in which they were unable to do so consistently due to injury or illness.
Centre-back Gibson, 32, had a difficult winter and a few of forgettable games, but he did deliver a standout performance on the last day to secure the Derby draw.
When midfielder Pearson, 30, returned to the team in the spring after missing a year due to a hamstring injury, he had barely played. He can help pin an opponent back when he’s at his best, but he was battling to find the stamina to do so in every game.
Striker Gallagher, 29, was sidelined three times by injury. He improved the team when he was healthy, although he only started nine games.
It doesn’t matter how good a player is if he doesn’t participate. How much can Robins count on them this time around?
Other questions about the midfield pecking order
Sol Sidibe is now 18 and appears to be keen to play on a regular basis. As a teenager in a vital position, he had to stake his claim to four managers in less than two years, which was not an easy task. He is unlikely to go out on loan, and he has always had a lot of suitors from around the country and in Europe.
If an exit was becoming more possible throughout the offseason, he also appears to be the type of player who can quickly rise up the pecking order.
He barely had the opportunity to train with Robins because he was diagnosed with a lower back stress fracture at the turn of the year.
He’s captained England’s under-18s, and no one knows what his ceiling is or how quickly he can get there. His story is still taking shape.
Tatsuki Seko joined Stoke from Kawasaki Frontale in August, so his individual season spanned February 2024 in the J League and May 2025 in the Championship.
The 27-year-old appeared less regularly as Robins established himself, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he looked into other options if his game time was limited.
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