Stoke City close in on Premier League striker
Stoke City are believed to be closing in on a deal to sign Ali Al-Hamadi from Ipswich Town.
Mark Robins has admitted Stoke need to bring in new players in the final week or so of the transfer window as they try to pull clear of the wrong end of the Championship while managing a long injury list. Stoke go into a home game against Gary Rowett’s in-form Oxford United tomorrow (12.30pm) while sitting 19th in the table – and in the middle of a pack of seven clubs from 17th to 23rd who are separated by just five points.
Robins has brought in left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand on loan from Manchester City and recalled Nathan Lowe and Lewis Baker from loans but Tom Cannon was recalled by Leicester to be sold on to Sheffield United and there are now nine senior players in the treatment room.
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He has been desperate to add strike power and are rushing to get through a deal for Al-Hamadi, aged 22, who has been used as a sub by Ipswich this season in the Premier League, having signed from AFC Wimbledon 12 months ago. Stoke have one loan spot remaining of the five allowed in a match day squad.
Robins said this morning: “We need some help, there’s no doubt, because we’ve spoken about the injuries or the lads who are missing at the moment and they need help. We’ve got 18 games left so we’ve got enough games to turn around our form, which hasn’t been great in terms of picking points up.
“There have been some good performances against really decent opposition and we’ve managed to get through to the next round in the FA Cup, which gives people a chance to play and get minutes under their belt, but also it’s a chance to progress in a prestigious tournament.
“We’re ok with that but of course we need some help with some new recruits and we’re working really hard. I know Jon (Walters, sporting director) is working hard with the recruitment department.”
Al-Hamadi has been in demand from Championship clubs who are nearly all searching for a forward this month - but a move to West Brom fell through at the 11th hour earlier this week.
Robins has never suggested that the January window would be easy and the challenge for a club constrained by Financial Fair Play rules was put into sharp focus with the Cannon situation; relying on the loan market only to see a player then called back and sold for £10m.
Robins said: “You’re always at the mercy of other clubs when you loan a striker and unfortunately that’s been the case. It was a difficult one to swallow but it opens up opportunities. It was almost a reading of the situation when I recalled Nathan back from his loan spell at Walsall and they’ll have felt exactly the same because he was flying for them at the top of the division.
“But people have to do what they have to do and we’re not in a position of strength at this moment in time – but that, over time, will change and we won’t be in this position again, although you’re still at the mercy of other clubs if you’re got talented players, talented forwards, whoever they are, defenders, goalkeepers, midfield players. But if they’re your players you’ve got more of an element of control.”
Stoke found it difficult – through a series of managers and recruitment regimes – to find a regularly-scoring striker even when they haven’t had a hand tied behind their back quite to this extent with FFP. There has been close to £60m spent on 19 forwards since 2017.
But Robins hopes it is not impossible to find a centre-forward without having a spare £10m in his back pocket.
He said: “Not impossible… hopefully.”
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