Stoke City transfer deadline day state of play as bargain hunt goes into final hours
Stoke City are still exploring potential last-minute deals at the end of a transfer window, and mid-way through a season, largely dictated by Financial Fair Play constraints.
Stoke would like to add a quick winger to Mark Robins’ young squad but are not pursuing Hibernian’s Elie Youan, who is currently recovering from a toe injury anyway, while Bristol City set too high a price on Mark Sykes.
It is a time in the three-year rolling FFP cycle when Stoke’s transfer budget is particularly limited and it seems like a small pool of available and affordable options that would improve the starting XI, especially with a cluster of senior players due back from injury in the next couple of weeks, even if Robins will then have to manage minutes as they get up to full speed.
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Stoke already have the maximum five loan signings allowed in a match day squad. They are allowed eight in the 25-man squad submitted to the EFL and had seven in 2022/23, when Alex Neil was prepared to leave two out each week – but they have been reticent to go down that route. It is not entirely ruled out, however, for someone like a wide player who might also be an option to take again next season.
Robins has been clear that he doesn't want panic deals. Still, things can happen quickly on deadline day and transfer dominoes can suddenly open up unexpected opportunities and Stoke are on alert for all developments.
There has been interest from AIK Stockholm in Jordan Thompson, who is out of contract in the summer, but Thompson is eager to get back fit after a hernia operation and try to impress new boss Robins in training. The Swedish transfer window is open until late March.
There is a chance that Rapid Vienna could try to send back Ryan Mmaee, who is yet to feature since moving on loan in August after suffering a quad injury in his first training session. He is facing more time on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring problem when he had a run out in a winter-break friendly last week.
Midfielder Darius Lipsiuc, aged 19, has suitors for a loan deal in League Two. He was on the bench as Stoke beat Hull on Saturday. Stoke have been able to do some interesting business at under-21s level at this time of year in the recent past, like bringing in D’Margio Wright-Phillips and Will Goodwin, and that might be something to watch before 11pm.
Andre Vidigal, who is under contract until 2026, might attract late interest as he remains short of game time. He turned down overtures from Qatar and Turkey last summer in hope of staying in the Championship.
What has Mark Robins said about deadline day?
Robins said after the Hull win: "I'm still hopeful. But again, we're in a position where we are doing things by the book. We do things by the book. We can't go and throw a load of money around that we're not allowed to. We are doing things by the book. Let's see what happens. We'll definitely be working towards doing something, whether we can do something or not, remains to be seen but like I've said before, we've got players here and I can focus on what we've got in the building and work hard with them."
What business have Stoke done so far?
Stoke have brought in two players: Ali Al-Hamadi, who scored on his debut at Hull, and Josh Wilson-Esbrand, who started on the left wing. Nathan Lowe and Lewis Baker have also been recalled loans, with Lowe starting up front and Baker missing this one due to illness.
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