Stoke City have opted against making Sead Haksabanovic’s transfer a permanent one at the end of the campaign, with the Montenegrin expected to return to Celtic, according to the latest reports.
It’s been a gruelling campaign for the Potters who have spent the majority of it down near the bottom of the table, locked in a draining relegation battle. However, having picked up a huge 3-0 win at the Bet365 Stadium last weekend against Plymouth Argyle, Steven Schumacher’s team have hit the 50-point mark in the Championship.
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The former Premier League outfit are still not safe at the moment as they sit four points above the relegation zone with two matches remaining, but a victory or potentially even a draw in their remaining two games versus Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium and Bristol City at home should all but secure survival for another season.
Once the club are secure in England’s second tier, the Stoke City board will certainly be looking to carry out an inquiry into what went wrong throughout the campaign for the side and will start trying to strengthen the squad ahead of 2024/25.
One player who won’t be at the Bet365 Stadium is Haksabanovic. The winger has had a disappointing campaign at Stoke-on-Trent, making merely 23 appearances for the side in all competitions under both Schumacher and Alex Neil, recording just three goal contributions.
🐂 Turnbull with the nutmeg
🤤 Hakšabanović's curled winnerBoth goals from our Unique Angle 📽
Enjoy, Celts! 😃💚#CELROS | #cinchPrem | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/Bn0e0msHHR
— Celtic TV (@CelticTV) November 12, 2022
According to a report from Swedish outlet Fotbol Direkt, via Football Scotland, Stoke have opted against signing the attacker on a permanent basis and the Montenegro international is set to return to Celtic Park this summer.
The Scottish champions have reportedly slapped a £2.2 million price tag on the 24-year-old, who helped the Glasgow giants secure a domestic treble last season under Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
Writer’s View
Haksabanovic showed glimpses of his quality in the previous campaign with Celtic but has now failed at two different clubs in England, having joined Premier League side West Ham United as a teenager back in 2017.
Seven years ago, the Hammers purchased this highly-rated talent from the Allsvenskan for £2.7 million, yet Celtic want less than that nearly a decade later. Haksabanovic has not reached the potential expected of him in his career and it’s clear Stoke City can’t help him do this either.
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