It has been three weeks since Stoke City’s season came to a disappointing end as they fell to a poor 2-0 defeat against Watford at Vicarage Road.
The loss sadly felt like a fitting end to the season, with the Potters failing to make the most of a few half-chances early on before two late, easy goals for the Hornets ensured that Stoke would be resigned to ending the season winless in eight games.
Following the mediocre display, manager Alex Neil and his coaching staff have decided that clearing the decks is the next best step for the club. In the recently announced retained list, the club announced that Demeaco Duhaney, Aden Flint, Phil Jagielka, Sam Clucas, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Nick Powell and perhaps most surprisingly Morgan Fox, would all be released at the end of their contracts.
With the loan, players set to return to their parent clubs (at least for now), that will leave Neil with only 13 senior players under contract, that includes club captain Lewis Baker, who is surrounded by rumours of a departure after losing his place in the starting eleven, Tom Edwards, who has not played a game for Stoke in over three years but could fight his way back into contention and Connor Taylor, who has struggled to earn the trust of his manager to nail down a regular spot.
So, with only thirteen players at the club, as it stands (in addition to Emre Tezgel and Nathan Lowe), City are going to need to bring in heavy reinforcements as soon as possible.
Despite the expectancy that Stoke will have a “more than competitive budget” this summer, it is an absolute certainty that Ricky Martin and his recruitment team will be looking to swipe the best free agents on the market so the question is, who should Martin be preparing to swoop in for on a free?
Axel Tuanzebe – Age: 25 – Position: Centre-Back
Admittedly, making a permanent move for the outgoing Manchester United defender is a huge risk from the Potters’ point of view, with Tuanzebe having only made five appearances in all competitions due to injury-related issues during his four-month loan spell in Staffordshire. However, this is the kind of ‘educated gamble’ Neil has been referring to.
In the handful of games the Congolese-born defender featured in for Stoke, the Staffordshire-based side won four of them, with the only loss Tuanzebe featured in coming against Premier League high-flyers Brighton in the FA Cup. He played a huge role in those four victories too, keeping top-end Championship attackers such as Teemu Pukki, Cameron Archer, Sorba Thomas, and Ben Brereton Diaz mostly quiet.
It's no secret that Tuanzebe is a Premier League centre-back in relation to his ability, he’s strong, quick, powerful, and technically gifted on the ball, a rare combination of qualities for a defender playing in England’s second tier.
The only issue for the 6-foot-one defender is his injury record, which has seen him sitting on the treatment table often throughout his career, but, with a full pre-season to build up his fitness and proper treatment for him throughout the season, Tuanzebe is certainly a player worth taking an ‘educated gamble’ on.
Ryan Manning – Age: 26 – Position: Left-Back/Left Wing-Back
Six-time Ireland international Ryan Manning has had an outstanding season for Swansea City, proving himself to be one of the best creative full-backs in the division as he ended the Championship season with 15 goal contributions in 43 league appearances.
Manning is comfortable playing as a full-back to either a back four or a back five in addition to stepping inside to act as a left-sided centre-back to a five when needed. In addition to his versatility, the 26-year-old Irishman has a world-class left foot that contains the ability to deliver a peach of a cross at any moment and has the mobility to seamlessly transition from defensive situations to attacking situations.
With Neil making it no secret that he is looking to recruit a target man this summer, it would not be a shock to see the Scotsman approach the already verified free agent Manning to help make his future big man’s job far easier to do.
Han-Noah Massengo – Age: 21 – Position: Central Midfielder
Only a few short years ago, Han-Noah Massengo was one of the hottest prospects in the EFL and undoubtedly would have had his suitors higher up the English pyramid keeping a keen eye on him following an impressive maiden season at Bristol City.
Fast forward to four years later where he has been exiled from the Robins first-team by Nigel Pearson before being shipped out on a loan to Ligue 1 outfit AJ Auxerre, where he has enjoyed a positive run of performances. The decision to cast Massengo out on loan has almost certainly signaled his last game for City, with his contract set to expire upon the conclusion of his temporary spell in his home nation France.
Massengo will certainly have suitors from a few different parts of the world thanks to his excellent technique, his ability to read the game and his willingness to get stuck in deep within his own midfield.
At only 21 years of age, the former AS Monaco defensive midfielder could realistically still reach his astronomical potential and it would be a dire oversight if the Potters didn’t try to add Massengo to their ranks this summer, especially on a free. He would make a great partner or rival for Ben Pearson, who is widely expected by fans to be one of the few returning loanees this summer.
Daniel Johnson – Age: 30 – Position: Attacking Midfielder
Daniel Johnson is a name Stoke fans have been all too familiar with following the club’s relegation from the Premier League in 2018. The Jamaican international has never featured in a Preston side that has been on the receiving end of a loss against the Potters, with his record against the midlands club standing at five wins and one draw in six appearances against Stoke.
Throughout those six games, Johnson was a constant thorn in City’s side, it often felt like former Preston boss Neil sent the now 30-year-old out just to frustrate Stoke and use the dark arts against them, but now in an interesting turn of events, the Lilywhites stalwart has been rumored to be set for a reunion with his old gaffer at the Bet365 Stadium.
It is fair to say that the news has come with mixed reactions from fans at both clubs and it is fair to say that Johnson is certainly not the player he was a few years back but, with Stoke needing so many players this summer, the Jamaican really isn’t a bad pick-up for the club, especially on a free.
Johnson could provide an experienced head in the dressing room and having played under Neil over 150 times, he will know what is required of every single player in the dressing room and will likely be a trusted general within the former Norwich City manager’s new-look squad. Not to mention that, at only thirty years of age, he still has something to offer on the pitch as well.
Chiedozie Ogbene – Age: 26 – Position: Winger
To be frank, Chiedozie Ogbene has been one of the most impressive players in the Championship this season, hence his inclusion on this list.
The Ireland international has been the stand-out player in a Rotherham United team that, in many Championship fan’s eyes, have massively overachieved in the league this season, finishing comfortably above the relegation zone in 19th.
Ogbene was a large part of that impressive season for United, scoring eight goals and registering four assists along the way to help the Millers achieve their goal of survival. The wide man’s powerful runs, clinical edge, and ability to go past his man caught the eye throughout the season.
The 26-year-old’s impressive showings this year have led to the inevitable rumours that he will walk away from the AESSAL New York Stadium this summer, with Middlesborough and Swansea City reportedly interested, likely alongside the rest of the Championship.
Neil has made no secret of his desire to bring in a few wingers this summer. On more than one occasion he has publicly expressed his frustration with the lack of wide players, and this has often led to him decide to move away from his preferred 4-3-3 and switch to a 3-5-2, a shape that has never really been suited to Stoke under any manager.
The Scotsman was also spotted watching Ogbene last month, which makes it logical to conclude that he is interested in bringing the former Brentford man to the Bet365 Stadium this summer.
Jean-Phillippe Krasso – Age: 25 – Position: Centre Forward
It is no secret that the Potters will be looking to bring at least one striker, if not more this summer and on this occasion, it is another case where Neil should be taking an ‘educated gamble’ on one of the most prolific strikers in the French second-tier this season, Jean-Phillippe Krasso.
Historically, Ligue 2 has produced quality players for the English game including N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, and Ibrahima Konate, who all plyed their trade in the French second tier before eventually making the big jump to the English leagues. There is a firm belief that the 25-year-old Ivorian could be the next player in that line of success.
During the 2022/23 season, Krasso donned a Saint-Etienne shirt on 32 separate occasions and while doing so, scored 16 goals, and registered nine assists, finishing as the third top goal scorer in the league behind Alexandre Mendy (17) and Georges Mikautadze (22). It is worth noting that Krasso picked up four assists more than Mendy and one assist more than Mikautadze.
The Ivory Coast international would be a great fit for the Championship, possessing the ability to weave his way through opposition defences, the pace to isolate himself with the goalkeeper, the physical profile needed to cope with England’s second tier, and a scarily natural calmness in front of goal. All of these attributes make him a striker ready to spearhead a Championship side towards promotion and with Neil, Martin and co showing a willingness to recruit from abroad, Krasso is a player that simply has to be on their shopping list this summer, especially on a Bosman.
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