Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill has admitted the club are on the lookout for new signings, but also stated he would be prepared to give young players a chance.
O’Neill was speaking ahead of Stoke’s match up with Milwall at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday, where former manager Gary Rowatt will return to the club for the first time. Milwall are on a good run and sit seventh in the table, while Stoke are one place above the relegation spots.
Asked about Stoke’s plans for the window, O’Neill did not deny that the club where open to bringing in new players. He said: “We are actively trying to add the right players but we won’t add for the sake of it. We would like players who will have an impact on the starting XI. We would also like a bit more youth in the side. Julien Ngoy and Thibaud Verlinden have been good since they’ve come back in”
Both Verlinden and Ngoy came off the bench for their first appearances of the season during Stoke’s FA Cup loss to Brentford and could be in line for more Championship action. Stoke are yet to bring in any new players this window, but have let go of midfielders Badou Ndiaye and Peter Etebo.
Ndiaye has left on loan for Turkish side Trabzonspor, while Etebo moved on loan to Getafe in La Liga. While neither player appeared to be in O’Neill’s plans, or keen to stay at the club, Stoke have failed to bring in any money for two players that joined the club at significant cost within the last two years.
A further blow comes with the news that numerous clubs are eyeing up Tyrese Campbell. The young striker is out of contract in the summer and is yet to agree to a new deal with the club he joined in 2016.