Alex Neil hopes to complete more Stoke City transfer business before season starts

Stoke City have finished pre-season programme with home match against Everton

Alex Neil insists his Stoke City summer transfer business is not finished yet – and he hopes to get more signings over the line before next weekend’s Championship opener.

Neil has already brought in 10 new players, including six who started the final friendly of pre-season against Everton, and has Josh Onomah on trial. There have been strong links with Colchester right-back Junior Tchamadeu and Neil isn’t ruling out bringing in another forward player too.

Asked if there were more signings still to come, he said, succinctly: “Yes.”

“Hopefully,” he added about if they would get done before the curtain raiser against Rotherham. Deadline day is not until September 1.

It has been an incredible window just in terms of numbers and the amount of change means Stoke are in contention to field more debutants than any game since 1919.

Neil admits he has not had a pre-season like it, saying: “Never. I don’t think any club is going to find itself in this position too often but we are in a unique situation. We needed a reset, this is an opportunity to reset and we’ve got to be bold. We’ve got to commit to it and make sure we get up and running as quickly as we can.

“I’ve said on a couple of occasions that we need a bit of patience particularly with the foreign lads because it’s a new culture, a new environment, it’s a new level of football, some are coming away from family for the first time. We just need to be patient with the boys and allow them to bed themselves in let them show us what they can do.”

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JUST IN: Stoke City complete the signing of excellent striker is a permanent deal

Stoke City transfer news from StokeonTrentLive as Brazil international Wesley Moraes joins the Potters from Premier League club Aston Villa

Stoke City have signed Brazil international striker Wesley Moraes from Aston Villa on a permanent deal.

The 26-year-old forward has put pen to paper on a one-year contract at the bet365 Stadium. He becomes the club’s ninth new addition of the summer so far.

Wesley arrived at Villa Park in the summer of 2019 from Club Brugge, having been the Belgian side’s top scorer in 2018/19. He made 21 Premier League appearances in his first season at Villa, scoring five goals before injury brought an early end to his campaign.

He spent last season on loan at Spanish club Levante, featuring in 37 matches in all competitions as they finished third in the Segunda Division. Wesley joins Alex Neil’s Stoke squad ahead of Saturday’s final pre-season fixture against Everton.

Alex Neil has spoken about the importance of preparing for the diverse nature of the Championship and the variety of scenarios and styles you can face week-to-week,” said Stoke technical director Ricky Martin. “Wesley provides us with the experience of playing at highest level and also the tactical awareness, technical ability and physical attributes to unlock opposition who set up with a defensive approach.

Wesley added: “I had a very positive six months in the Premier League with Aston Villa before my injury and I now see this move to Stoke City as a great opportunity for me to show my best football in England. Last season, I played a lot for Levante in Spain, which was great for me to get back to 100% so I am now ready to go here at Stoke City.

“I spoke to my representatives about the fresh project here at Stoke and we collectively decided this is the best place for me to join.”