With FFP heavily restricting Michael O’Neill and his teams’ actions in this upcoming transfer window, Stoke City will no doubt be scouring the free agent market for a bargain this summer. So who are some of the higher-quality, realistic options that we could see sign for the Potters this summer?
Matthew Olosunde
Current Club: Rotherham Utd
Position: Right-Back
Age: 23
Height: 6ft1
Nationality: American
Born across the pond, ex-Manchester Utd and New York Red Bulls’ youth player Matthew Olosunde has certainly caught the eye with his performances this season in a struggling Rotherham side. The 23-year-old American has produced a number of impressive performances this season for the Millers, who have unfortunately been relegated from the Championship and will be playing League One football next season, potentially making this deal a much easier one to pull off.
Standing at 6 foot 1, Olosunde provides plenty of athletic attributes. The Philadelphia-born right-back enjoys defending, boasting a tackle success rate of 72% for the season. The American also clearly enjoys the attacking-side of the game, having picked up 3 assists in 33 games in a Rotherham side that has struggled for goals, in addition to a single goal in the FA cup against Premier League outfit Everton.
Olosunde could provide much needed competition to current Stoke City right-back Tommy Smith, he’s also in that age-bracket O’Neill will be looking for this summer. Paul Warne has already expressed concern over losing Olosunde at the end of this season with Olosunde out of contract in around a months’ time.
Yasser Larouci
Current Club: Liverpool
Position: Left-Back
Age: 20
Height: 5ft8
Nationality: Algerian
With it being highly unlikely that current Stoke City loanee Rhys Norrington-Davies will be back at the Bet365 Stadium next season, you would imagine O’Neill will be in the market for a new left-back to provide competition to the more permanent option of Morgan Fox. Current Liverpool want-away Yasser Larouci could be the answer to the former Northern Ireland bosses’ prayers.
Arriving at Liverpool as a 16-year-old left-back, full of promise having come from the distinguished academy of Le Havre in France, the same academy that has produced the likes of Manchester Utd midfielder Paul Pogba, Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez and current PSG defensive midfielder Lassana Diarra to name a few. Larouci has since made his first-team debut for Liverpool and impressed in those few games he played; however he has been cast aside in favour of new signing Tsimikas and as a result, the Algerian wing-back wants out.
Larouci possesses many desirable qualities for a modern-day left-back. Possessing bags of pace, athletic prowess, ability on the ball and clever runs off it, Larouci nearly has the potential to be the full package, his defending can let him down at times but his other attributes help him compensate for that side of his game and at only 20, I’m sure O’Neill and his coaching staff could nurture that side of Yasser’s game. Larouci certainly fits the bill of a few of O’Neill’s signings so far, a young, promising, and exciting player.
On a free, Yasser Larouci could be an absolute steal for Stoke or any other Championship club for that matter. Larouci has been linked with a move to Leeds Utd but you would think if Stoke offered him the first-team football he wants, he would consider a move to the Potteries?
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu
Current Club: Luton Town
Position: Central Midfielder/Defensive Midfielder
Age: 27
Height: 5ft8
Nationality: English
Linked with Stoke back in 2019 when Nathan Jones arrived, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu has carried his League One promotion form into the Championship, playing a key role in both Luton’s survival last season and the Hatters 12th place finish this season.
At 27-years of age, Mpanzu fits the age range that O’Neill wants, the former Newcastle man is hoping to add more players in their peak years this summer. Standing at 5ft8, Mpanzu isn’t the biggest player in the world, but for what the Englishman lacks in height, he makes up for in strength and athletic ability.
Mpanzu is exactly what Stoke are missing in the middle of the park at the moment, a combative, ball winning midfielder who doesn’t give the opposition a second to breathe on the ball. Mix that with plenty of athleticism and a few years of experience in the Championship with Luton and you have the ideal midfielder for Stoke on a free.
O’Neill has also spoke of the importance of adding goals and assists from all over the pitch, this is yet another attribute the long-time Luton man could add to our midfield, having scored 2 goals, and picked up 4 assists in 46 games this season.
Could Mpanzu be the final piece in the puzzle to our midfield?
Sullay Kaikai
Current Club: Blackpool
Position: Left-Winger/Right-Winger/Attacking Midfielder
Age: 25
Height: 5ft10
Nationality: English
The first and only League One player on this list, Sullay Kaikai has had a sensational season for promotion-chasing Blackpool.
A skilful and tricky winger, London-born Kaikai has the ability to play in the Championship without a doubt. A standout player for Blackpool, possessing extremely attractive attributes for any high-quality winger in the Championship, pace, skill, creativity, and final product. Sullay Kaikai has really proven his worth during this potential promotion campaign, playing 40 games, scoring 7 goals, and assisting 8, very impressive numbers from the ex-Crystal Palace academy product.
Blackpool have played a different system to what O’Neill would like to play, playing a 4-4-2 instead of O’Neill’s preferred 4-2-3-1 but it shouldn’t be too big of a change for Kaikai to adapt to quickly, as he shines most when dribbling down the wing.
Would you like to see Kaikai lined up with the rest of Michael O’Neill’s men, potentially against what would be his former club next season?
Ashley Fletcher
Current Club: Middlesbrough
Position: Striker/Left-Winger/Right-Winger
Age: 25
Height: 6ft
Nationality: English
With his Middlesbrough career looking like it’s going to end, could Ashley Fletcher on a free be too tempting an offer for Stoke City to resist?
The striking department has been a part of the reason Stoke have failed to finish higher than 14th this season, missing key chances that have ultimately cost them points. With Ashley Fletcher likely available in the summer he could be the Potters answer to this.
His goalscoring record this season doesn’t read to well for a striker, having only scored 4 in 15 games, chipping in with an assist too. However this poor record for the 2020/21 season is likely due to an injury he suffered prior, focusing a lot more on recovery and being heavily restricted by what he could do in games up until recently where he has come back to full fitness. Fletcher has proved he has the pedigree to be a Championship goal scorer in the past, as last season he scored 11 goals and provided 7 assists while playing regularly for Middlesbrough, that’s 18 goal contributions.
Fletcher is another player who also fits the age profile O’Neill will be looking for this summer at 25 years of age, just coming into his prime, Fletcher could end up becoming a real shrewd signing if Stoke are to pursue him.
An athletic, big, mobile forward, Ashley Fletcher could be the perfect competition up front for Steven Fletcher, who shares similarities but is a lot older and more prone to injury. Despite the confusion it could cause for some commentators, it’d be a smart move for O’Neill to consider the ex-West Ham and Manchester Utd Striker. His versatility is an added bonus too, able to play up front, on the left or the right comfortably.
Could Fletcher be the ideal player for O’Neill to bring in on a free?
That’s the end of the list, would you take any of these players on a free, or should Michael O’Neill look elsewhere in the free agent and loan markets?
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