Stoke City signing to spell exit for defender

Transfer news from the bet365 Stadium as Alex Neil continues major transformation of Stoke City squad

Stoke City are expected to sanction the permanent exit of Connor Taylor as they bring in Luke McNally.

Youth graduate and former Stoke season ticket holder Taylor, aged 21, is on the verge of re-signing for Bristol Rovers for a fee in the region of £300,000, StokeonTrentLive understands.

He had been a key figure on loan for Rovers as they won promotion to League One in 2022 but returned to Stoke last summer, signing a new contract. But he didn’t get the game time he wants at this stage of his career and he has been keen to return to Rovers, where he is popular with supporters and has remained a major target for manager Joey Barton. There has also been interest from Plymouth Argyle and Barnsley.

Taylor was with Stafford Rangers college programme and signed up for a soccer scholarship in the United States when he was offered a trial by Stoke. Loans followed at Newcastle Town, Ashton United and Chester before his stellar year in League Two.

He has made 19 senior appearances for Stoke and has stayed for pre-season while Alex Neil reshapes his defensive department. Axel Tuanzebe, Phil Jagielka, Morgan Fox, Aden Flint, Tom Edwards and Dujon Sterling have all left.

Player of the year Ben Wilmot remains and Ki-Jana Hoever has returned on loan at right-back while new signing Enda Stevens is competition for Josh Tymon at left-back and centre-half MIchael Rose has joined as a free agent. Mark Travers has arrived as new number one goalkeeper.

McNally is set to follow on loan from Burnley while Neil, who has been impressed by youth prospect David Okagbue over the last few weeks, is keen to bring in another centre-half and right-back. Matty Baker is also expected to continue his development on loan after doing well at Newport County in the second half of last season.