Football Season Guide

Stoke City

In


Josh Laurent (mid) Reading; Dwight Gayle (att) Newcastle United; Aden Flint (def) Cardiff City; Liam McCarron (def) Leeds United; Gavin Kilkenny (mid) Bournemouth - loan; Harry Clake (def) Arsenal - loan; Peter Etebo (mid) Watford - end of loan; Benik Afobe (att) Millwall - end of loan; Tom Ince (att) Reading - end of loan; Alfie Doughty (mid) Cardiff City - end of loan;

Out


Joe Allen (mid) (k) Swansea City; Tom Ince (att) Reading; James Chester (def) (sp) Derby County; Steven Fletcher (att) (sp) Dundee United; Benik Afobe (att) Millwall; Alfie Doughty (mid) Luton Town; Mario Vrancic (mid) (sp) HNK Rijeka; Tommy Smith (def) (sp) Released; Josh Maja (att) (r) Bordeaux - end of loan; Abdallah Sima (att) (sp) Brighton & Hove Albion - end of loan; Taylor Harwood-Bellis (def) (r) Manchester City - end of loan; Jaden Philogene-Bidace (mid) (sp) Aston Villa - end of loan; Liam Moore (def) (sp) Reading - end of loan; Romaine Sawyers (mid) (sp) West Bromwich Albion - end of loan;

Stoke endured another inconsistent 2021-22 campaign to disappointingly finish 14th - 13 points off the playoff places. City have lost Joe Allen in a huge blow in the middle of the pitch, whilst several older players have been moved on in a further cutting of the wage bill. Dwight Gayle has been brought in to score the goals required to lift Stoke back towards the playoffs and, if the striker stays fit, he could turn out to be the signing of the transfer window. Flint, Laurent and Kilkenny are also useful additions in a largely positive transfer window for the Potters, although pre-season results have been disappointing so far. With the likes of Nick Powell and Gayle, Stoke could form one of the most feared strike forces in the division, particularly if Jacob Brown enjoys another productive campaign up front as well. The spine of the team is also looking solid through the centre of the pitch, but O'Neill certainly lacks flair and width in his squad as things stand. As a result, the Potters may struggle to adapt in certain games this season, particularly against opponents defending deep and narrow but, should they be able to add a couple of wingers in the remaining weeks of the transfer window, they look to be in for a positive year.

Target


A push for the playoffs will be expected in a much-improved campaign for Stoke this year, although much of the burden could fall on Gayle's shoulders if he can stay fit.