Stoke City transfer latest amid late striker talks
Ryan Mmaee is expected to return early to Stoke City as talks continue with Rapid Vienna about cutting short his loan in Austria.
The 27-year-old striker hasn't been able to play any minutes yet for Rapid after suffering a quad injury in his first training session at the club. He got back to fitness only to suffer a hamstring problem in a winter break friendly last week and is now likely to face another four to six weeks on the sidelines.
Rapid have had horrid luck with forwards this season, none more so than Guido Burgstaller, who sustained a fractured skull when he was attacked in Vienna in December. They had hoped Mmaee would help to fill the void as they prepare for a return to action at the weekend.
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But instead they have been looking at different options in the final hours of the transfer window and there has to be an agreement between all three parties tonight to end the Mmaee loan at this stage. Rapid will continue to pay the majority of Mmaee's wages if he returns to Clayton Wood.
It will be a chance for new Stoke boss Mark Robins to take a look at a striker who is under contract at Stoke until 2026 - and the team has clearly not scored enough in the first half of the season.
Stoke have lost Tom Cannon this month but brought in Ali Al-Hamadi, recalled Nathan Lowe and sent Niall Ennis on loan to Blackpool. Emre Tezgel will get a chance under Robins while Lewis Koumas can play down the middle too and Sam Gallagher is recovering from a hamstring injury.
There is still a small chance that Stoke could bring in a sixth loan player before 11pm if the right deal is possible and the club is on alert to any other opportunity that can present itself as dominoes fall.
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