Brazilian centre-back emerges on Stoke City's winter transfer radar
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Stoke City hold an interest on Fortuna Sittard centre-back Rodrigo Guth, according to a report from Fussball Europa.
Stoke City had a fairly busy summer transfer window but having made a change of management to bring Narcis Pelach in to replace Steven Schumacher, it seems likely they’ll be active in the winter too.
It will be Pelach’s first opportunity to make his mark on the squad he inherited. Time will tell how much the Potters have to spend and what deals they look to strike, but they’re likely to cast a wide net and look overseas as they have done in recent windows.
The hope will be that some fresh recruits can push them towards the Championship play-off picture. They’re six points off the top-six as it stands, sitting 14th in the table.
Now, claims of a new Stoke City target have emerged from European reports.
German outlet Fussball Europa states that the Potters are interested in Fortuna Sittard star Rodrigo Guth. The 24-year-old plays as a centre-back and has been with the Eredivisie club since joining from Atalanta in 2022.
He has played 84 times for the club since, becoming a solid defender at a good level. The report says Guth is not and will not actively push for a move but he is receptive to the idea of a new challenge, and if an acceptable bid comes in, Sittard may not stand in his way.
Centre-back needed?
Stoke City have a good amount of players who can play at centre-back at this moment in time, so it’s perhaps a little surprising that they’re looking at bringing Guth in.
However, perhaps he’s more of a long-term target. Ashley Phillips is only in on loan, so it could be that an option is needed come next summer.
For now though, Spurs loanee Phillips, Ben Gibson, Michael Rose, Ben Wilmot and youngster Jaden Dixon are all on the books as options. Bosun Lawal can play as a defensive midfielder or centre-back too, while Enda Stevens has filled in centrally before as well.
It means there are more pressing matters than signing a centre-back going into January, but it’s perhaps just sensible to have one on the radar.
Winter priorities
Pelach and Stoke City will mainly be focused on finding consistent form in the Championship having made notable steps forward under his lead without making serious inroads up the table.
However, away from the pitch, there will be a keen focus on the business the club can do when the January transfer window comes around.
Some extra support up top for loan talisman Tom Cannon is likely to be a focus. Otherwise, the Potters squad is pretty well-stocked, so perhaps some new faces could come in if players are allowed to move on as Pelach makes his mark on proceedings in Staffordshire.
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