Stoke City boss Alex Neil has told BBC Radio Stoke that the club’s rebuild is not over despite a busy summer transfer window.
Stoke City had the busiest window in the Championship in the summer, making a staggering 17 signings before Chiquinho’s loan was cancelled, later followed by the free signing of Ciaran Clark in October. It wasn’t just an influx of incoming players, with 11 senior players leaving the club (10 permanently), including Jacob Brown (Luton Town) and Josh Tymon (Swansea City).
Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke on Tuesday, the Stoke boss stated:
“When we’ve had such a vast window in one go you’re never going to be able to cover all the bases in that one window. You’re going to need two or three to get to the point that you’ve needed from day one”
Whilst also stating that January presents an opportunity to “top up the squad with a couple more bodies”.
Despite a vast amount of signings, the Potters are still lacking in depth in some areas, namely the number one spot following the departure of Mark Travers via an emergency recall by Bournemouth, as well as having only one natural left-back in Enda Stevens.
Stoke, who had a rocky start to the season, are unbeaten in five, keeping four clean sheets in the process and sit 14th in The Championship as the club continues the rebuild from the ground up, intending to return to the top flight following four years of FFP restrictions.
Writer’s View
Stoke is at the start of a huge project which has seen the club completely flip the script of how they have done business in recent seasons. There is no hiding the fact that Stoke spent big when they first returned from 10 years in the top flight but failed to challenge for promotion with five consecutive bottom-half finishes.
What the the the club are doing this season seems to be a lot more intelligent, by bringing in affordable players who can ensure performances and results are acceptable whilst also investing in the future with the permanent signings of Wouter Burger (22), Bae Jun-Ho (20), Nikola Jojic (19) and Junior Tchamadeu (19).
Stoke’s owners, The Coates Family, are among the wealthiest in the country and they have never shied away from spending money, where they are able to whilst also being in line with FFP. The type of business the club is doing has so far looked promising and over the next 2 or 3 windows, you’d expect that players will continue to move to Staffordshire with the final goal of challenging for the top 6 and ultimately, promotion.
I can see Stoke going back in for Mark Travers, whether that be a loan or a permanent signing, as well as bulking up the left-back position and maybe another attacking option due to recurring injuries to the summer signing, Ryan Mmaee.