The status of Stoke City’s transfers as Championship business picks up
As the clock ticks down to his first full season as manager, Mark Robins has welcomed his Stoke City team back for first team training.
This isn’t quite an exact replica of last week. Now that teams are back for preseason training, Stoke City is working hard behind the scenes to bolster their first team roster, and transfer activity is picking up speed.
Players will now begin to be pressured into making decisions after having a lot of options and spending the last several days weighing them all, including being shown around stadiums and training facilities.
For instance, there is a huge list of free agents, and the most desirable ones will have been courted for a long time.
Just a few of the players who were out of contract and included in our Championship free agent XI earlier this summer have found a solution.
Jimmy Dunne has chosen to remain at Queens Park Rangers, while Harry Darling has joined Norwich, where he will work with former manager Liam Manning. Stoke had been aware of both.
There is a lengthy list of young players that Premier League teams will also loan out, and some of the most sought-after ones have already started scouting possible destinations.
Due to the absence of a big international tournament this summer, teams will have more complete squads sooner than usual, which should expedite the process of deciding who should be released.
In terms of potential departures from Stoke, it is essentially a copy and paste, even though Niall Ennis has since departed. Andre Vidigal is welcome, and Ryan Mmaee will depart.
Sol Sidibe is back at Clayton Wood training. After a preseason training camp with Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly and Chelsea prospect Landon Emenalo, the 18-year-old England youth midfielder, who has been the focus of rumors regarding interest from longtime admirers, should return ready to go.
After missing the second half of the previous season due to a back ailment, Sidibe will now have an opportunity to make a lasting impression on Mark Robins. These are important weeks for him.
Stoke will also step up through the gears as the Championship’s business picks up.
Although connections have begun to grow, Stoke’s inclusion as one of four or five Saudi Arabian or MLS teams or clubs is a warning that it should be interpreted cautiously, at least most of the time.
For instance, Birmingham City seems to be closing on deals for Nigerian right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel, Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle, winger Demarai Gray, and England youth goalie James Beadle.
However, after the first few days of preseason, few clubs have signed more than one or two real first team improvements, and most still appear to be at that point before the major breakthroughs.
The home opener against Derby County on August 9 kicks off the season, while the transfer deadline is on September 1.
Sorba Thomas, who has been given this time off because of his close-season international duties with Wales, will meet up with his new teammates after this week. Stoke has already brought him in.
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