Stoke City have been inconsistent in the Championship in recent weeks, so head coach Narcis Pelach will be looking forward to being able to amend his squad in January as he approaches his first transfer window as Potters boss.
The Potters' young squad looks to be gelling together well as the season goes on but it is still very thin in certain positions as it stands and they will need to make additions in January if they wish to maintain their mostly decent performances under the Spaniard's guidance.
Pelach has had to work with what he has been given so far, after only being hired as head coach in September, so a busy month of both incomings and outgoings is sure to commence at Clayton Wood as soon as the new year is upon us.
With that in mind, Football League World have identified four transfers that Stoke should look to make before the upcoming transfer window shuts at the start of February.
In: Kasey McAteer
kasey mcateer
Stoke are definitely lacking depth in wide areas right now, and the loan capture of Leicester City forward Kasey McAteer would go some way to helping soften the blow of Tom Cannon's potential Foxes recall in the new year.
23-year-old McAteer was very important to Leicester's Championship title charge last season, and bagged six league goals in 23 appearances and just 13 starts to help them to promotion, but has been handed fewer Premier League chances so far this term.
The Republic of Ireland international can be a very effective player in the second tier when given a chance to shine and was a standout in terms of his average rate of goalscoring last season, as well as his impressive work-rate on and off the ball.
Kasey McAteer 2023/24 Championship statistics (FBref)
Appearances
Starts
Goals
Goals per 90
xG per 90
Shots on target %
% of Aerial duels won
Clearances per 90
Stoke need a new versatile attacker like McAteer in January, as Million Manhoef is their main man on the right wing but has little in the way of competition for his place, and as a result, has been lucky to keep his place as often as he has in recent months amid some patchy form.
In: James Bree
james bree 2
Given Stoke's clear right-back troubles this season, it would make a lot of sense to secure a deal for Southampton man James Bree, as he is out of favour in the top flight and is unlikely to become a regular in Russell Martin's side on the right of defence anytime soon.
Bree joined the Saints from Luton Town in January 2023 after making over 140 appearances for the Hatters in three-and-a-half years, but has not nailed down a starting spot in either the Premier League or Championship at St Mary's, so the club will surely see fit to let him leave on loan, or possibly even on a permanent deal, after the turn of the year.
The 26-year-old would definitely come in as the Potters' new first-choice right-back for the second half of the season if he did sign, given his experience and clear quality, and he has highlighted that ability against Stoke already this season, with a late winner as the two clubs faced off in the EFL Cup to seal a 3-2 victory for the Saints.
Pelach needs a new right-back in January, and that position should be a clear priority to sign to provide competition for Junior Tchamadeu, who has been left as Stoke's first-choice at right-back this season, with Lynden Gooch as a back-up, but usually utilised elsewhere, and youngster Jaden Dixon who can also step into that role, but is not ready to be a regular at just 17-years-old.
In: Joe Gelhardt
Joe Gelhardt playing for Leeds United
Given Ennis' almost inevitable exit and the possibility of Cannon being recalled by Leicester, the Potters will very likely need to add to their striker ranks in the new year.
Joe Gelhardt would be a realistic and exciting addition to Pelach's side, as his play style seems very well-suited to his system, and recent reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post claim that Stoke, along with a host of Championship sides, have registered their interest in his signature ahead of the January window opening in just under a month's time.
The 22-year-old has been stuck watching on from the sidelines at Leeds so far this season, with a lack of game time set to force a January exit after an exclusive report from MOT Leeds News last month revealed that he hopes to seal a temporary move away from the Whites during the winter window.
Gelhardt's previous loan experience saw him spend six months at Sunderland in 2022/23, and he impressed at the Stadium of Light with three goals and three assists in 18 games, but could not quite take the Black Cats to the play-off final as they lost in the semi-finals to Luton Town.
He returned to Elland Road last summer with Leeds back in the second tier but made just 13 appearances and was given two league starts, and his chances so far this term have been at an even further premium under Daniel Farke.
Stoke are facing an uncertain January with Cannon's recall situation, and Ennis in need of a move away, but regardless of if the Foxes frontman stays or goes, Pelach needs to bolster his strike force with a player like Gelhardt, to compete with Cannon and Gallagher, who has spent sufficient time on the sidelines already this season.
Out: Niall Ennis
niall ennis
The January window will represent a year at Stoke for striker Niall Ennis and he has struggled to prove himself in red and white so far so could make way in the new year as the Potters look to bolster their frontline with new additions.
Ennis joined Stoke to aid their troubles in front of goal, after he had shone under Schumacher during their time together at Plymouth Argyle, and had struggled to find his feet at Blackburn Rovers following a summer 2023 move to Ewood Park.
He has also struggled for form at the bet365 Stadium though, as he netted just once in 14 league games in his first six months, and has been pushed further down the pecking order this season due to the arrivals of the likes of Cannon and Sam Gallagher, and Schumacher's departure.
The 25-year-old was linked with League One sides Barnsley and Wrexham late on in the summer window, but a move never materialised, yet either club may look to reignite their interest in the new year as they each look to consolidate their positions in the top-six of the third tier.
He has recently been consigned to rarely making the matchday squad, with Pelach clearly unconvinced by his impact on the team when he comes on as a substitute, ahead of a surely imminent departure in January, either on loan or on a permanent deal.
tom cannon stoke Related
["The big issue" - Stoke City: Tom Cannon fear raised as January looms](https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/the-big-issue-stoke-city-impending-tom-cannon-fear-january-approaches/ ""The big issue" - Stoke City: Tom Cannon fear raised as January looms")
Leicester City could make a significant call on Cannon, who is currently on a season-long loan at Stoke City.