A new report has revealed Stoke City will sanction an exit for Wouter Burger this summer based on one certain condition.
The midfielder was a consistent presence in The Potters’ side throughout last season, playing in 39 of their 46 Championship matches in a topsy-turvy season which saw three different permanent managers take charge. The 24-year-old has now played two full seasons in England after arriving from FC Basel in Switzerland, and has two further years left on his original contract.
Sale Could Happen
According to EFL Analysis and Graeme Bailey, Mark Robins’ side could let Burger leave this summer, should the club ‘double their money’ on the versatile midfielder. Interest has emerged for the former Feyenoord player, with sides both in the Premier League and Championship interested.
One named side is Sheffield United, who are in need of a new holding midfielder after selling Vini Souza to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for a seven-figure fee. Ruben Selles’ side are yet to invest in a new midfielder so far this window, but will certainly be buoyed by the return of Ollie Arblaster from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury to play alongside last season’s breakout star in Sydie Peck.
For Stoke, they have only signed one new player this window in Sorba Thomas from Huddersfield Town, and are heavily linked with the Plymouth Argyle defender Maksym Talovierov. Local reports in Devon suggest that the two clubs are on the brink of reaching an agreement for the 25-year-old, who only arrived at Home Park in January.
Another star that the Staffordshire side could sell is Million Manhoef, following his Under-21 Euros appearances for the Netherlands. The winger stated in an interview that he would like to make a step to another club should the opportunity come, but would not be averse to another season under Mark Robins’ tutelage.
Writers’ View
It does feel like a bit of an obvious statement to say that any club would sell their players for the right amount of cash. Wouter Burger is no exception, and based on the report, it would cost £8 million to see him leave Stoke City, based on the fee they paid Basel in 2023 for his services. Sheffield United’s interest is understandable with Vini Souza poised to leave for Wolfsburg, but with Arblaster and Peck being two outstanding young talents that can be supported by Tom Davies from the bench, would it be best to sign a new player who would want a starting position over one of them?
