Celtic tested Stoke City transfer waters - the Potters must stand firm in January | OneFootball

Stoke City winger Million Manhoef attracted interest from Celtic this summer

Scottish giants Celtic reportedly explored a deal for Stoke City winger Million Manhoef this summer, and with the Dutch winger continuing to impress this season, the Potters must brace themselves once more for interest this winter window.

After narrowly surviving relegation from the Championship last season, Stoke were in need of balancing the books as PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) loomed over them, and were bracing themselves for bids for some of their key assets.

One of those attracting interest was Dutch winger Million Manhoef, who appeared 34 times in the league for the Potters last season, scoring five and assisting four, having joined the club in January 2024 for roughly £3.4 million from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.

Celtic were one club that was reportedly keen on the Dutch youth international over the summer, but following the sales of Wouter Burger to German Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim and Sol Sidibe to Dutch Eredivisie outfit PSV Eindhoven, that seemed to satisfy the regulations, and meant a sale of Manhoef wasn't necessary.

As it happened, Manhoef remained in the Potteries and has remained the first-choice winger from the right this season, and with Stoke flying high in third place, his performances are bound to be garnering interest from elsewhere, and the Potters will once again have to stand firm in the wake of interest.

Manhoef has started 11 of Stoke's 13 Championship games so far this season, and has contributed four goals and one assist at this stage.

The winger has featured exclusively on the right, where he can cut in on his preferred left foot, and has created a fruitful partnership with right-back Junior Tchamadeu in the process, with the duo regularly combining in transition.

Capped 25 times by the Netherlands Under-21s side, Manhoef added one goal and one assist to his tally at the weekend against Bristol City after playing a one-two with Manchester City loanee Divin Mubama before placing the ball in the bottom left corner from the centre of the box.

Cutting in on his preferred left foot has become something of a trademark for the 23-year-old, and his goal against Bristol City perfectly epitomises his game.

His single assist came from combining with Tchamadeu down the right, where the Cameroonian international ran from his own half before slotting in the bottom left corner.

Whilst former Huddersfield Town man Sorba Thomas is claiming the majority of plaudits for his performance off the left, having scored four and assisted four in the league so far, Manhoef's performances may have gone slightly under the radar.

However, if he continues to perform this way, interest in the young winger is almost a foregone conclusion, and with his contract running until the summer of 2027, a big decision over his future must be made soon by the club, or they could risk losing him for nothing.

Million Manhoef could play a defining role in Stoke City's promotion bid this season

Manhoef has established the right side of attack as his own under Mark Robins and won't give it up easily without a fight.

Welsh international Thomas has been electric playing off the left so far this season, but he is also capable of playing off the right should he be required to do so.

French youth international Lamine Cisse was brought in this summer from Ligue 2 side SC Bastia for roughly £2 million, but has made just two league starts so far and struggled to make much of an impact from the wing, despite his assist against Bristol City at the weekend.

Bae Jun-Ho is also capable of playing off the left and offers an alternative option to Thomas should Robins decide to line up that way, but at the moment, it is Manhoef who has locked down the right flank.

The Dutchman may play a defining role for the Potters this season, as his contributions down the right will massively dictate whether they are true promotion contenders or not.