News from the bet365 Stadium as Bristol City and Stoke City prepare for their championship match at the bet365 Stadium
This Sunday, when Stoke City hosts Bristol City, they will bring a curtain to what has been an exciting season.
Though there is a strong temptation to claim that this will signal the beginning of yet another significant summer transfer window, the preparations for that have actually been underway for ages. At games throughout the nation, sporting director Jon Walters has been seen personally monitoring targets in real time. Steven Schumacher has also been sighted, and he recently mentioned how much more practical it is logistically to do that from Stoke than it was from Plymouth.
One of the main goals will be to reduce the team to a manageable size, with roughly 22 senior players in mind.
As a result, there will be a greater number of departures than arrivals, and some players will say goodbye on Saturday at full time. Even if they aren’t entirely sure what their future holds, they, Stoke, or their parent club will need to decide during the next three months.
ENDA STEVENS
In their 45 league games thus far, Stoke has only won 14; yet, in the 20 games in which Enda Stevens has played, Stoke has won 8 of them.
Few people can claim to be surprised that he hasn’t been available for the entire season given his age of 33 and his history of bad finals seasons at Sheffield United due to injuries, but it’s still a shame for Stoke that he isn’t ten years younger and in better shape.
This summer is his contract’s expiration, so Stoke will have to decide whether to put his body through it all again. It will be an interesting decision, and they will need to make plans appropriately.
DANIEL IVERSEN
Since Thomas Sorensen was brought in for Stoke in 2008, the team has not signed a first-choice keeper to a permanent contract. Before Jack Butland achieved his breakthrough, Asmir Begovic was sent back out on loan, and even he arrived originally to challenge Sorensen.
However, this summer, they should make that change. As he’s settled in since January, Iversen has appeared more and more like he would want to return and play frequently.
With one year remaining on his deal, Leicester may be able to demand a higher price, although that’s probably easier said than done. He was kicked out of the Premier League for six months last summer due to their beginning price, but maybe he will soften after being promoted to the Premier League.
Ki-JANA HOEVER
Since Ki-Jana Hoever, the right-back, came to Stoke on loan from Wolves in January 2023, nobody has scored more goals for the club than he has. Now that he has eight and counting, he is capping off a difficult season with a bang. When he is full of confidence, he is a different animal, and it is difficult to predict what level of playmaking success he will reach. The Championship doesn’t have many full-backs with his level of goal threat, so where and how quickly he plays will depend on how focused he is on defence.
Junior Tchamadeu, a teenage right-back on Stoke’s roster, is a prospect to watch. Would Wolves have their heads turned at a price that could entice them back, or would they be ready to let Hoever go?
Whatever transpires, Hoever’s progress over the last 18 months will have been greatly influenced. It’s his first true taste of men’s football; he’s scored some significant goals, persevered through some trying times, and, by all accounts, spoken out forcefully during the crucial player meetings during the relegation struggle.
He will be well received.
LUKE CUNDLE
It’s reasonable to assume that the majority of onlookers would have written off Luke Cundle’s loan a month ago. Perhaps even a few weeks prior.
However, he contributed to a fantastic victory away at Hull and then returned to spark victories over Plymouth and Southampton and score a crucial equaliser off the bench at Sheffield Wednesday. He was destined for the role that connects midfield and attack in a squad that is gaining confidence, and it’s no accident that Million Manhoef and Bae Junho have both performed at their best in it.
Wolves seems hesitant to let him go this summer based on what they’re hearing.Stoke could put that to the test and give Schumacher a coach he can rely on, as well as his parent club if it came down to another loan.
LUKE McNALLY
As the most used Stoke player this season, Luke McNally (3,112 minutes) may still surpass Michael Rose (3,139 minutes).
He is in his first full season of playing consistently in the Championship, and throughout that time he has undoubtedly wanted the ground to swallow him up, but he has also made some significant contributions and played with all of his heart.
Next week, he will return to Burnley, where his chances of success appear slim. If and when Burnley is relegated back to the Championship, perhaps that will change.
This summer, Stoke will be looking for one or more centre halves. He’s been well-liked in the locker room, and the team will be losing a strong darts player.
Being Stoke’s longest-serving first team player, he is likely the most well-known of the players nearing the conclusion of their contracts. His performances over the last three weeks have been crucial to taking Stoke across the finish line, but we’ve already talked a lot about what might or might not happen next.
