Stoke City will be active in the transfer market this summer as they try to…….

The Stoke City wonderkids who could save John Coates a fortune

Stoke City will be active in the transfer market this summer as they try to break a cycle of bottom-half finishes in the Championship.

Head coach Steven Schumacher, sporting director Jon Walters and new head of recruitment Lee Darnbrough are tasked with bringing in quality to improve the starting XI while also trying to trim a senior squad which became bloated and imbalanced after a flood of incomings under a different regime last summer.

The plan is to make sure there is scope for a host of young players to make a big stride towards becoming a proper part of the first team plans. Here are the youngsters who will try to catch Schumacher’s eye in pre-season and force their way into his thinking over the following few months.

The 17-year-old England youth midfielder, son of Stoke hero Mama Sidibe, has been with the club he supports since primary school and got his first taste of the first team in the season just finished. In fact, he was the youngest player to get on the pitch in a league game for Stoke in 65 years and he became the first player born in 2007 to play in either the Premier League or Championship.

A strong athlete and an excellent footballer, there are high hopes for what comes next. He has been linked with interest from Chelsea, AC Milan, Monaco and Juventus but it would be a surprise if those kinds of clubs aren’t watching his progress now because they have been up until this point – and he has always seen Stoke as the best place to be, certainly at this stage in what should be a long and successful career. He was wanted by France, Mali and Senegal too but is happy in an England shirt.

Will join up with the first team in pre-season and Schumacher told the Sentinel: “He’s a really good player. He’s impressed us loads in all the under-21 games that I’ve watched him play, whenever he’s trained with the first team, he’s done really well. He’s got a really good personality and a good attitude, which obviously comes from a good stock, good family, and I was delighted to give him minutes on the pitch.

“He’s definitely one for the future. I spoke to him last week when I was in the building and he was in too. I had a good chat with him and said it was important that he comes back in really good condition because doing an under-21s pre-season or an under 18s pre-season is the complete opposite to what’s going to be required in the first team.

“I missed my opportunity at Everton when I had my first first-team pre-season. I physically wasn’t capable to keep up and under David Moyes and Alan Irvine I didn’t make that first impression that I was good enough. I probably regret that.

“I’ve told him not to make that same mistake, to make sure he’s fit and ready to go because if he does do that and he catches the eye and he proves to everybody that he’s as good as any of our other midfield players, then he plays. I don’t care if he’s 17, if he’s better than the ones who are there.”

Nathan Lowe

A traditional number 9, aged 18, who got around the first team in 2023/24, scoring a vital first goal of his career to secure a thrilling 3-2 comeback win at Bristol City.

Nominated for Championship apprentice of the year, which eventually went to Leeds United’s Archie Gray, and is being eyed up by loan suitors unless he can suddenly propel himself up the pecking order in pre-season.

A thirst for goals in his junior career, having been on Stoke’s books since the under-10s, although he has been modest about his own development.

“Most people will have never heard of me because I wasn’t a stand out player coming through,” he said. “I was kind of close to being released quite a few times and I was going through growth spurts… it’s a bit of a little underdog story. Since I’ve signed I’ve definitely been a Stoke fan. I obviously care a lot about the results whether I’m playing or not.”

He added: “I’m ambitious as anyone would be and I want to progress as quickly as possible and make my stamp on the first team. I want to make it so that the gaffer can’t take me out of selection. Whether it’s next week when I get a start or whether it’s six months, I’ll just make sure I’m ready for it and I’ll make sure I perform to the best I can.”

Emre Tezgel

Another proper centre-forward, also aged 18, who has been earmarked for big things pretty much since he was old enough to kick a ball. Has been pushed and tested above his age group and became Stoke’s youngest player of all time when he made his debut in the FA Cup at the age of 16 in January 2022.

A spate of injuries meant he had to take a step back at the start of last season to make sure his body could take the increased strain of men’s football. Then he was let out on loan to MK Dons as they chased promotion in League Two to get his first proper taste of being involved in senior squads week in, week out.

“I’ve been at Stoke my whole life so being away is a taste of something different, the senior football aspect of it has really helped me and I’ve been enjoying it,” he told the Sentinel.

“I’ve played as a striker and a number 10 and I feel that can only help me really, being able to play in different positions and try things out. It’s been a good variety and some good playing time even if every player would always say they want to play more.

“The obvious answer about the difference between under-21s football and this is the physicality and getting used to how quick it is and being able to handle the ball under pressure. That’s a massive part of it.”

Tommy Simkin

Former British youth martial arts champion was an outfield player until an emergency at under-14s level when he was thrown in goal. He hasn’t looked back. Good with his feet, agile and brave, he has been called into England youth camps over the last few months and impressed on a loan with Solihull Moors in the National League in the first half of the season.

An emergency recall when Mark Travers’ loan at Stoke was abruptly ended saw him thrown in for a first team debut in December. but a subsequent loan to Forest Green Rovers at the wrong end of League Two was aborted when our old friend Steve Cotterill took over there as manager.

Clubs are hoping to borrow him next season and the arrival of Viktor Johansson means he doesn’t have to be rushed – which probably didn’t do Joe Bursik any favours in the end – but a good year playing regularly at a decent level could shoot him into Stoke’s thinking.

Jaden Dixon

Summoned for England’s under-17s European Championships squad after a super first year at Clayton Wood following his surprise exit from Tottenham last summer. Has a bit of everything at centre-half – and the physical development still to come will help his case too – and has been benefitting from a season under the wing of youth coach Ryan Shawcross.

Helped Stoke reach the under-17s reach the Premier League Cup semi-final as well and that’s an interesting and exciting group. Most of the players in that side were coached by Walters back when he was working in the academy.

“It’s an amazing feeling to have agreed a professional contract at Stoke City,” said the defender as he signed his first professional deal in May. “I have enjoyed my time here so far and I’m continuing to progress. I feel loved and wanted here and I’ve been shown a clear pathway.

“Teammates and staff have shown how much they believe in me and that has given me the confidence to perform and improve this season, as well as giving me a real determination to continue progressing in the years to come.”

Will Smith

The fresh prince of Norton was initially on Manchester United’s books when he was at primary school but joined Stoke as an under-11. The central midfielder has been pushed and progressed under the watch of youth coaches including Liam Lawrence and Dave Hibbert.

Still only 18, he took a further step into the under-21s squad in the season just finished and showed he can change games with goals as well as link play. An excellent team player.

Jack Griffiths

Promoted to spend pre-season with the first team in 2022 under Michael O’Neill, who referred to him as “extremely talented”. The playmaker, still 18, from Yarnfield, was up again with the seniors last summer and Alex Neil privately singled him out as “outstanding” only for injuries to hamper his progress.

Showed he could make and score goals for the under-21s and ended the season with the offer of a new deal. All to prove again under a new first team boss this summer.

Matthew Baker

The 21-year-old centre-back has received an emergency summons to the Wales senior squad this week following injuries to fellow defenders Connor Roberts and Joe Rodon. Baker has been getting a taste of men’s football out on loan with Newport County in the last two seasons. He spent the second half of 2022/23 with the Exiles in League Two before returning for the term just finished, recovering from a pre-season injury to make 39 appearances in all competitions.

Offered a new contract by Stoke, there will be strong interest again this summer and it will be interesting if he might be tempted for a loan or maybe even permanent move as the next stage of his development. He will get a chance to show what he can do to Schumacher first up and stake his claim in pre-season.