"Would we even allow it?" - Stoke City duo touted for significant summer transfer interest | OneFootball

FLW's Stoke City fan pundit has earmarked Viktor Johansson and Wouter Burger for summer transfer interest.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Stoke City could be heading towards a summer rebuild regardless of whether they remain a Championship club, or fall into League One.

Potters boss Mark Robins inherited a squad that already included a handful of loan players, before making a further two temporary additions to his squad in January.

However, the 2024/25 season hasn't gone to plan at the bet365 Stadium, with the club sacking Narcis Pelach in late December after just three months in charge, and whilst defeats haven't been as prevalent under Robins so far, neither have wins.

Heading into a midweek clash with Bristol City, Stoke find themselves flirting with the relegation zone, as they look set to once again record a bottom-half finish in the Championship this season at best - something they've done every season since being relegated from the Premier League in 2018.

As such, clubs will surely be looking at the situation in The Potteries as a chance to swoop in for some of the club's best players, in what could be a big summer of change for Robins to navigate.

"Not many like him" - Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has established himself as one of Championship's best shot stoppers

We asked our Stoke City fan pundit, Sam Harrison, which players he expects to attract the most transfer interest in the summer and why, with goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and midfielder Wouter Burger being the selections.

Starting with Johansson, Harrison said: "Someone that I definitely do not want to see go and would be a huge, huge loss, but surely would attract attention because of how big of a player he is for Stoke is Viktor Johansson.

"You feel that, whether it be a top Championship club, or maybe even a Premier League side, would at least be enquiring or be interested in him. He's one of, if not the best Stoke player we've had this season. A fantastic signing.

"He's a leader, he's so versatile in that goalkeeping role that he's going to attract attention. There's not many keepers like him, especially in the Championship. He's definitely one of the top ones.

"So I think he's absolutely going to attract attention. It is whether Stoke are going to entertain it, and hopefully we don't. But out of them all, when you think about it, you've got the likes of Million Manhoef and Bae Jun-ho as well.

"But I think Johansson is the biggest one that may attract quite a bit of attention, because of how well he's played, not because he wants to move away, simply because of how well he's doing. Possibly even the money side of it, not for him, but if the money is right, would we even allow it? I'm not too sure.

"But because of how well Johansson plays, because of what a top keeper he is, of course he's going to attract attention from them bigger teams, and hopefully they don't look at it. But it's a natural thing, and in that long period of time in the summer, maybe it happens.

"Fingers crossed it doesn't and he stays, and continues in the stripes of the Potters for another season next year."

Wouter Burger also tipped for potential Stoke City summer exit

Despite perhaps not quite hitting the same level of form and performance levels as he did during his debut season as a Stoke player last season, Wouter Burger is still a vitally important part of the Potters squad.

After rejecting a deadline day approach from Danish side FC Midtjylland when a deal looked likely to be completed, the former Dutch youth international is clearly a player that the club see having a big future at the bet365 Stadium, as well as ensuring that they back Robins during his first transfer window as their new manager.

"I think there's a number of players you kind of expect are going to be linked with a move away," Harrison said on Burger. "Hopefully it doesn't happen and we keep hold of them, but I think Wouter Burger, with the previous interest for him.

"With a late deadline day move that didn't happen, you feel that someone similar would come in for him in the summer. So he's one."

Losing Burger in the summer would leave Stoke surely needing to find a replacement, with fellow central midfielders Lewis Baker and Jordan Thompson set to become free agents at the end of the season.

City's depth chart in the middle of the park behind those two out of contract stars consists of a plethora of young players, the majority of whom lack senior experience.

Therefore, Burger should be viewed as a foundational part of Robins' midfield of the future, with his vast amount of experience at various top levels of European football despite his tender age making him a tough player for Stoke to replace.