The medium-term picture is to then make sure that Stoke get enough right to make sure that next season is very different. If there will probably never again be a summer quite be like what happened in 2023 – when there were 37 transfer deals in and out – there will still be scope to make significant tweaks. The aim will be to improve and downsize a squad which is currently nudging 30 players.
There are some decisions which we already know will need to be made. There are five loan players scheduled to return to their parent clubs and nine senior players out of contract.
although the Sentinel understands that there is an option to extend Jordan Thompson’s deal by 12 months. Talks have pretty much been on hold until Stoke are mathematically certain of their status.
That group includes players such as Ciaran Clark, Wesley, Tom Edwards, Frank Fielding, Blondy Nna Noukeu and D’Margio Wright-Phillips, who between them have not made a league start for Stoke since Steven Schumacher was appointed head coach in mid-December.
Wright-Phillips, aged 22, has done well out on loan at Beerschot in Belgium, winning the second tier title and promotion. Edwards, aged 25, has made six starts this term on loan at Huddersfield Town.
Stoke City squad for next season
GK: Jack Bonham, Scott Morris, Tommy Simkin
RB: Junior Tchamadeu
LB: Liam McCarron
CB: Michael Rose, Ben Wilmot, David Okagbue, Matty Baker
CM: Wouter Burger, Josh Laurent, Lewis Baker, Daniel Johnson, Ben Pearson, Sol Sidibe
RW: Million Manhoef, Lynden Gooch, Mehdi Leris
LW: Bae Junho, Andre Vidigal, Nikola Jojic
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