Stoke City are expected to step up their transfer business with one week remaining before the summer window officially opens.
Stoke have been putting things in place behind the scenes during the off-season to try to give themselves the best chance of having a better season in 2026/27, particularly in terms of medical and recruitment. Appointments are also set to be announced for the academy and under-21s, as well as in Mark Robins’ first team coaching set-up.
Business started with tying down key players Viktor Johansson and Junior Tchamadeu to new contracts while a one-year option was triggered for Ben Wilmot. Milan Smit’s loan deal from Go Ahead Eagles has become a permanent transfer.
Lewis Baker and Steven Nzonzi have been released preluding a major overhaul of the midfield department while no decision has been confirmed on veteran left-back Aaron Cresswell.
Stoke need to bring in cover and competition for Johansson in goal if they are to allow Tommy Simkin to continue his development with another loan move. Simkin, aged 21, made 17 appearances after being recalled from a spell at Leyton Orient in League One for the second half of last season while Johansson was in the treatment room.
There is genuine interest in Josh Griffiths, aged 24, who has made 45 senior appearances since breaking through at West Brom. Griffiths, an England youth international like Simkin, has also had loans with Cheltenham Town, Lincoln City, Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers to clock up nearly 200 matches already in his career.
He started last term as number one with Albion but boss Ryan Mason chopped and changed before Max O’Leary joined on a short-term deal from Bristol City in the January window. O’Leary has now signed a three-year contract and Griffiths’ exit is expected to be sanctioned.
Stoke are likely to be in the market for a centre-back and striker but it will be in midfield where there will be most activity – and the Potters are looking for a major injection of athleticism. Targets include at least a couple of midfielders who were in the Championship last season.
There won’t be a pressing need to sell to comply with the EFL’s financial rules, which are changing this summer, but that doesn’t mean they won’t wheel and deal if the right opportunities come up.
Nathan Lowe is attracting interest from suitors in League One and Scotland while Stoke will hold, or have held, talks with agents about moving on senior players who will not be part of their plans going forward.
The transfer window officially opens on Monday, June 15 and will close on Tuesday, September 1. The season starts with a Carabao Cup tie on the weekend of August 7-9, with the Championship getting going a week later. Fixtures will be released on Thursday, June 25.
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