At this point of the season, transfer speculation is usually the hottest topic for many teams who have not made the post-season and that is no different for Stoke City.
The Potters would endure a fairly disappointing season, finishing in 17th and only six points ahead of the relegation zone. That was very much not what the club expected from this year but after preserving their second tier status, will be hoping to kick on next season.
Opting to bring in former Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher midway through the season would work out well and as a result, there is hope for the future of the club. Winning their last three games of the campaign further echoes that statement and they’ll be hoping to hit the ground running when the new term begins.
Schumacher may make quite a few changes this summer which comes as no surprise after the year in which they have endured, and they could receive some welcomed transfer funds through player sales.
One name who has been linked with a move away from the club is young sensation Sol Sidibe. At just 17 years-of-age, the midfielder has an incredibly bright future and has already broken into the first team.
The England under-17 international would end up making eight appearances across the season in all competitions for the Potters, including a 15 minute cameo in their 4-0 victory over Bristol City on the final day of the season.
As a result, the youngster is already receiving plenty of attention and is being monitored by some rather large clubs. The Daily Mail reported that Italian giants AC Milan are watching Sidibe, who could opt for a move to Italy this summer.
Although still rather raw, much of that down to his age, Sidibe could be quite the asset for the future and Stoke will want to get a good fee for the youngster if he was to make a move during the window.
It is believed that AC Milan are not the only side in for him, with Rangers also displaying an interest.
Writer’s View
We’ve not exactly seen a whole lot of Sidibe but the fact that he has already appeared for the senior side at 17 emphasises his huge potential. He’ll certainly come on for the experience and may enjoy a stronger season next term.
It is unknown what the asking price will be, but Stoke will be expecting a decent fee and will most likely also want a sell-on clause implemented into the deal due to his large potential.
A sale would bring some welcomed transfer funds to Schumacher’s budget but the midfielder could equally play a rather large part in the club’s immediate as well as long-term future, so they may in turn opt to hold on to him for another season.
Senior Editor