Three exciting Stoke City transfer targets in final flourish to sweeping window

News and transfer gossip as Stoke City manager Alex Neil oversees a transformative summer window

Luke McNally made it 11 new signings so far at Stoke City this summer and it is quite remarkable, in the context of history, to still be slipping the words ‘so far’ into that sentence.

Stoke have had busy summers before but even in 2018 under Gary Rowett they only signed nine players and in the 2019 Nathan Jones shopping spree they only signed 10. The big difference this time is that it hasn’t been adding new players to the squad but that, over the last three years and 12 months in particular, the squad was first completely stripped back.

It took a while for the changing room to fill up again during pre-season but they head into this weekend’s opener at home against Rotherham United with all positions covered.

There are still the best part of four weeks to go in the transfer window though and the final bits of business can now be fun, exciting and, hopefully, differentials. There is a team in place, what or who can they find to make it shine?

Technical director Ricky Martin told supporters at a Q&A on Wednesday night: “I’ve used the phrase, ‘We can now breathe.’

“We feel like we’ve done a lot of our recruitment, we’re putting together a squad we can start to work with and the manager and coaching team can prepare for games.

“But we now know what we want to add to that and we are going to be really selective in where we go to, what type of profile that is. Some of those might be key assets who come into the building and we might need to spend some time with and we’re looking and we’re active.

“I don’t want to say too much but there’s a lot of work going on and no doubt we’re going to be rumoured to be interested in another 50 players like the last four weeks, we get that. We are actively going to be adding to the squad.”

There are three prominent links which tick that kind of box.

Junior Tchamadeu, the Colchester United attacking full-back-come-wing-back, remains high on Alex Neil’s wanted list. The 19-year-old was named League Two young player of the year despite playing in a side that finished in the bottom half and, with a bit of patience, is seen as having high potential.

Luis Palma is from a little further afield, a 23-year-old Honduras international winger who has been attracting scouts to watch his progress with Aris in Greece.

Neil didn’t inherit any senior out-and-out wingers but has already brought in Portuguese pair Chiquinho and Andre Vidigal over the last few weeks. There is apparently a £3.5m price tag and Stoke are reported to be ready to enter talks.

Wouter Burger is a 22-year-old Dutch midfielder who has been emerging at Basel in Switzerland. Stoke have apparently put a ‘million dollar bid’ on the table with a view to agreeing a four-year contract. He can play as a defensive midfielder or box-to-box and was in the Holland squad at this summer’s under-21s European Championships. He has played alongside Ki-Jana Hoever at international youth level.

They are three names which not many people were predicting would be on Stoke’s radar but the time of major change, including the appointment of new head of recruitment Jared Dublin, has coincided with a significant change in the work permit rule, allowing clubs to sign up to four players who wouldn’t have met previous visa criteria.

Martin said: “I’d never previously worked with Jared. My workings with him before were very limited but since Day One he’s hit the ground running – probably even before Day One. His energy and his enthusiasm and his knowledge for players all around Europe is unbelievable. If anyone is looking for players for Football Manager, he’s your man.

“He knows a great depth of players, he’s seen a lot of players, he knows what their form’s like and he’s had a real impact in the window. He’ll be the first to say, as well, that the recruitment team have supported him as well. It’s not a one-man show, it’s not the

Jared Dublin show – but he’s driving that recruitment department. It feels like a recruitment department that is discussing real talent and what the talent market looks like.

“We were also fortunate that we could bring in some wild cards and we could look into that market more and Jared has really had a positive impact. It’s not just about the international market either, it’s also domestic. I don’t want Jared labelled as only bringing in foreign players, he’s not doing that. He’s been a great addition and someone we know we can keep developing and hopefully see the benefits on the pitch.”

Stoke City summer signings so far

Enda Stevens (left-back, aged 33, free agent from Sheffield United, one-year contract)

Ben Pearson (defensive midfielder, aged 28, undisclosed fee from Bournemouth, four-year contract)

Michael Rose (centre-back, aged 27, free agent from Coventry, two-year contract)

Daniel Johnson (midfielder, aged 30, free agent from Preston, two-year contract)

Andre Vidigal (winger, aged 24, undisclosed fee from Maritimo, three-year contract)

Wesley (centre-forward, aged 26, undisclosed fee from Aston Villa, one-year contract)