Stoke City have set a £2.5 million asking price for midfielder Lewis Baker, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
Baker has been attracting interest from Stoke’s Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers this summer and the Potters have stuck a hefty asking price on the player to try and avoiding losing him to a direct competitor. The fee is said to be putting John Eustace’s side off doing a deal, meaning the 29-year-old may end up staying at the bet365 Stadium.
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Baker is an experienced name in the EFL, with spells at a number of clubs throughout the league. Having come through Chelsea’s academy, he was sent on loan to sides such as Middlesbrough and Reading, as well as stints abroad.
The Luton-born midfielder then made a permanent move to Staffordshire in January 2022, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. He has gone on to make 90 appearances at the club, scoring 19 times and establishing himself as a key player in spite of injuries. Last season was a tough one for Baker, though, with form and injury limiting him to 20 appearances.
The 2023-24 campaign was the latest in a string of difficult seasons for Stoke, with Steven Schumacher’s outfit finishing 17th in the second tier. While last season was hard for Baker, his performances will be key to his club’s chances, and if he can replicate old form the Stoke may start to move up the table.
Similarly, Blackburn need reinforcements after narrowly avoiding relegation, and Baker could be part of the solution. Rovers have been quiet in the transfer window and need some experienced bodies in their squad. Baker provides that, but he won’t come cheap.
Writer’s View
Stoke will be desperate to improve on last season, and this price tag for Baker is an interesting one. They’ve set a very high fee for someone who struggled with injuries last year and only has a year left on his deal. If no-one comes forward and pays the £2.5 million, they risk losing him on a free next year which would be disastrous for a club at the bottom end of the division, especially if this season is unsuccessful.
For Baker, a move may revitalise his career and Blackburn need a player like him, but it looks like he’s staying put.
