Stoke City transfer latest as Mark Robins draws FFP red line before deadline day
Mark Robins still hopes Stoke City can do a last minute bit of transfer business to give his young and injury-hit squad a boost for a vital three months – but insists the club will not break any Financial Fair Play rules to push anything through.
Stoke have been buoyed by a 2-1 win at league rivals Hull as they head into deadline day – the first league win under Robins – when they were missing eight players and had Lynden Gooch limp out of action in the first half.
They have been trying to find pace to add to the forward department but are hamstrung by profit and sustainability constraints at this stage of a three-year rolling cycle – and they have already filled all five loan slots available on a match day.
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There have been links north of the border with jet-heeled Hibernian winger Elie Youan but that doesn’t seem likely to be one to watch at this stage.
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."
Stoke have brought in two players so far; 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.
Robins said: "Honestly, they're working hard and let's see. That's all I can say. I can't give you anything on anyone in particular or any specific player. I can't do that at the moment but let's just see what happens."
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