Key Stoke City figure shares hope over future loan transfers amid Leicester City, Spurs success
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Stoke City sporting director Jon Walters hopes clubs will start to view the Potters as a more attractive loan destination amid recent successes.
Stoke City had a busy summer transfer window, so it was a surprise when they decided to relieve Steven Schumacher of his duties in the early stages of the 2024/25 campaign.
It seemed to be a change the Potters had been considering for a little while too, as it didn’t take them long to get Narcis Pelach through the doors to replace him at the Bet365 Stadium.
The decision came under scrutiny at the time, but there have been improvements under Pelach and there’s a feeling he can lead an era of new hope at the club. He’s performed well while working with Schumacher’s squad early on.
Much of the Stoke City summer business focused on loans, and those brought in have found early joy. Tom Cannon and Ashley Phillips have impressed especially, while Andy Moran has caught the eye and Lewis Koumas has made some exciting appearances off the bench.
Of course, it’s still early days for these loan players, but Potters sporting director Jon Walters hopes their success can demonstrate that the club are an attractive loan destination for these young prospects.
“They’re all really good guys and we’re building relationships,” Walters said to Stoke on Trent Live about the Stoke City loan stars.
“And I hope other teams are looking and thinking, ‘I want to send a player to Stoke because I know what they produce, players are getting minutes, developing and their asset value has gone up.’
“We’ll help them, coach them, develop them, put in the messages that need putting into them. It’s not just me saying that, I see it happening. We’ll do that here.”
A breath of fresh air
There have been false dawns at Stoke City with expectations not met and changes failing to pay off.
Another clean slate is being provided for the Potters with changes made on and off the pitch. Walters and Pelach are two figures at the forefront, and it will be hoped it can finally get the club back to the heights they were previously at.
Significant work is needed to get there, but loans can be a pivotal part of their journey. Championship clubs often rely on the loan market but there’s a lot more to it than giving a Premier League prospect some senior game time.
It’s about developing them on and off the pitch, making sure they’re the right fit for the team and up to the challenge of the tricky step from youth football to the rigours of the Championship.
Walters and Stoke City seem to understand that, so hopefully there is more success to come in the loan market beyond Cannon, Phillips, Moran and Koumas this season.
Next up
The international break offers a chance to reflect on future plans and off-pitch matters but for Pelach and co, they’ll be eyeing this weekend’s return to action as another chance to prove they can look forward to a brighter future.
A trip to bottom side QPR awaits and it will be one Stoke City are expected to win.
The Rs are in dire straights down in 24th in the table having won just once in 15 games this season. They’ve been ravaged by injuries and are lacking confidence, so the Potters should have what it takes to get their sixth win of the campaign on the board.
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