£3.4m Stoke City star set to leave in 2027 - Middlesbrough & Wolves must react | OneFootball

Stoke City winger Million Manhoef's contract is due to expire in the summer, as Middlesbrough and Wolves should be registering their interest

Stoke City have recovered emphatically after losing each of their three opening games of the 2026/27 Championship season by heading into the international break undefeated in five, though there have been casualties in the Potters' squad from this excellent form.

Indeed, defeats to Swansea City, Southampton, and Wolverhampton Wanderers to begin the campaign meant Stoke headed into their deadline day clash with Norwich City needing a victory to alleviate the pressure on manager Mark Robins.

A change in shape from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-2-1 saw the Potters prevail 1-0 with some rearguard action, and since then, three wins and a draw have followed in that same formation.

Justin Devenny and Jack McGlynn have both in particular shone in the attacking midfield positions, though this has come at the expense of a couple of players, including Dutch winger Million Manhoef, who has recently seen his minutes slashed.

Why Championship clubs should be interested in Stoke City's Million Manhoef

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Manhoef, 24, joined Stoke in January 2024 for around £3.4 million from Vitesse, and has since gone on to make over a century of appearances for the Championship outfit, predominantly off the right flank.

Best deployed on the right flank where he can cut in on his preferred left foot, Manhoef is capable of operating in a more central position or even off the left wing, but since Robins has decided to change shape, he has seen his minutes slashed.

The Dutchman made 45 Championship appearances just last season, but has made just four appearances so far this campaign, earning just ten minutes combined in the last four games he was available for.

It was revealed by Alan Nixon's Patreon that Stoke rejected a bid worth around £5 million from MLS side Colorado Rapids late in the summer window, a decision that could come back to bite them, as with the change in shape and less than 12 months remaining on his current deal, it would appear unlikely that Stoke will make any sort of profit on the winger now.

Given his situation, numerous Championship clubs ought to be on alert, as Football League World takes a look at two clubs that should be looking to take advantage of Manhoef's situation at Stoke this summer.

Middlesbrough

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By this time next year, Middlesbrough will be hoping that they are a Premier League club once again, boasting one of the best transfer windows, on the face of it, the Championship has ever seen.

Will Lankshear, Ashley Phillips, and Radek Vitek all joined for potentially lucrative fees, whilst Sebastian Berhalter, Rokas Pukstas, and Max Arfsten extended the American connection on Teesside, as Kyle Joseph, Myles Peart-Harris, Jeremy Sarmiento, Sam Byram, Connor Barron, and Amario Cozier-Duberry all arrived at the Riverside.

Having missed out on promotion by the skin of their teeth last time around, Boro are looking to make no such mistake this time, as Hellberg will be hoping to have enough firepower to get them over the line to the top flight for the first time in a decade.

Regardless of what division they are in next season, Boro must continue to look to improve in all areas of the pitch, including the final third, especially if Cozier-Duberry returns to Brighton and Hove Albion from his loan.

The departure of Morgan Whittaker to Colorado Rapids, the same club that was interested in Manhoef, has created a gap on the right flank that will need a long-term solution, as Manhoef could be the answer.

Boro excel in tight spaces, preferring to work the ball into the box and remain patient to create openings, and Manhoef would absolutely thrive in this sort of environment.

One of the best dribblers in the Championship, the Dutchman's close control and technical ability ought to be a dream for Hellberg, and on a free transfer, Boro would be remiss to let this opportunity pass them by.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Wolverhampton Wanderers, like Middlesbrough, will have their sights firmly fixed on promotion to the Premier League this season, even more so than Boro, having been relegated from the top flight just last campaign.

Under Cesar Peixoto, Wolves have shown signs that they will almost certainly be fighting in and around the automatic promotion places this season, and though they sit in fourth heading into the international break, one could get the feeling that they still aren't yet quite up to speed.

With Fer Lopez, Mateus Mane, Raul Jimenez, Adam Armstrong, Sean Neave, Rafiki Said, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Rodrigo Gomes, and Bertrand Traore as options in the final third, the Portuguese head coach is certainly not scavenging for options.

Gomes has emerged as Peixoto's first choice option on the right flank, with former Chelsea and Sunderland winger Traore offering cover, though with the Burkina Faso international signing just a one-year deal in the Black Country, his long-term future at the club is doubtful.

Whether Wolves are promoted or not, Manhoef would be an interesting option for the Old Gold, offering a much younger alternative to Traore, and on a free transfer, presents minimal risk.