Keeping Campbell should be Stoke’s January priority
Tyrese Campbell is out of contract at Stoke City in the summer and it is an issue that has been much publicised in an around the club.
The former Manchester City striker’s form in recent weeks under Michael O’Neill has made him hot property elsewhere, and with the forward yet to sign a new deal, there is the chance Stoke could lose him for as little as £400k this month.
From the outside, losing Campbell, as striker who has scored just five Championship goals this season would be a blow, but not catastrophic. However, when you look beyond the goals, what Campbell represents for the club is far more important.
As a young player of promise, the 20-year-old is a figure of hope for the under-performing club. When so many high profile players have come through the club only to fail, there is nothing like a young, English player coming through into the first team.
Campbell has also been performing at a high level, scoring the winning goal against West Bromwich Albion during Monday’s win. His speed also offers Stoke a vital option on the counter, while his general play gives O’Neill’s side the ability to attack with more variation.
The hope is that Jordan Thompson can come in and provide more width and that Campbell can play through the middle more regularly. The England youth international is not only better centrally, but his absence from the role also makes the team worse.
Next. West Bromwich Albion vs Stoke City: Player Ratings. dark
Campbell is a beacon of hope and positivity during a bad period for the club and therefore keeping him this month would be far more important than any signing.