Ashley Phillips signs: Stoke City’s dream XI to face Swansea City on Championship opening day | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at Stoke City's dream starting XI to face Swansea City on the opening day of the campaign

Stoke City will be desperate for a positive year next time around after a decade of consecutive bottom-half finishes, as Mark Robins gets busy in the summer transfer window.

Stoke showed a glimpse of their capability under head coach Mark Robins last season, with the Potters fighting in and amongst the automatic promotion places by November time with Coventry City and Middlesbrough.

A calamitous dip in form thereafter followed, with only Sheffield Wednesday picking up fewer points than Stoke over the final 30 games of the season, as they dropped to 17th in the table as a result.

Following the departures of Lewis Baker and Steven Nzonzi upon the end of their contracts, each of Joshua Griffiths, Djibril Soumare, Svante Ingelsson, Ethan Galbraith, and Luke Graham have signed on the dotted line to begin the Potters’ summer.

With Bae Jun-Ho looking to be on his way to Lyon, a replacement in the number ten position will be a necessity for Robins, as FLW takes a look at Stoke’s dream starting XI on the opening day against Swansea City.

Viktor Johansson

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Starting between the sticks on the opening day has to be Swedish international Viktor Johansson.

The 27-year-old has been sensational ever since his reported £750k move from Rotherham United in the summer of 2024, consistently outperforming his expected goals against, having prevented 10.8 goals in the 2024/25 season alone, as per FotMob.

Recently penning a new long-term deal in the Potteries, retaining the former Aston Villa academy shot-stopper may well prove to be Stoke’s best bit of business all summer, as Robins will hope that he has recovered from that nasty shoulder injury sustained last January.

Junior Tchamadeu

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Also penning a new deal in North Staffordshire this summer is Cameroonian international Junior Tchamadeu, who has extended his stay with Stoke until the summer of 2028.

His £300k addition from Colchester United in the summer of 2023 has proven to be an incredible piece of business, with the right-back coming on leaps and bounds during his time with the Potters.

Injury at AFCON last winter disrupted his year, but there is no denying Stoke are a much better side with his presence on the right side of defence.

Ashley Phillips

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Having signed twice on loan already, Ashley Phillips has made more appearances for Stoke (83) in his career than any other club by a long way despite never being permanently contracted to the Potters.

The defender was signed by Spurs for just £2 million in the summer of 2023, and has been linked with a call-up to the Welsh national team due to his exceptional performances in the Championship.

Stoke would love to have him back permanently, though whether they stand a chance of prising him away from Spurs once again remains to be seen.

Luke Graham

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Signed from Scottish outfit Dundee this summer for around £2 million after fending off strong interest from Portsmouth is expected to slot right into the back line and provide immediate competition for the likes of Ben Wilmot, Ben Gibson, Maksym Talovierov, and Bosun Lawal.

Called up to the Scottish national team prior to the World Cup, the 22-year-old is extremely highly rated, and could well force his way into the starting XI immediately upon arrival.

Dennis Cirkin

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Aaron Cresswell signing a one-year extension gives the Potters assurance of another left-back option to Eric Bocat heading into next season, but there is room for improvement in that area.

Dennis Cirkin has been released from Sunderland and is available on a free transfer this summer as a consequence, with Alan Nixon having reported that both Burnley and Schalke hold an interest in his services.

Playing a crucial role in the Black Cats' rise from League One to the Premier League, Cirkin would be an excellent addition for the Potters, and one Robins simply must consider.

Ethan Galbraith

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Northern Irish midfielder Ethan Galbraith has joined from Swansea City for as much as £10 million, per certain reports this summer, with the 25-year-old massively improving the Potters' midfield.

With the aforementioned Nzonzi and Baker having left, competition for Tatsuki Seko, Ben Pearson, and Tomas Rigo in the middle of the park was a necessity for Stoke, which they have addressed and then some.

A technically gifted midfielder, he will face his former side on the opening day and be partnered in the middle of the park with another new addition.

Djibril Soumare

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Djibril Soumare spent last year out on loan with Sheffield United from Portuguese outfit Braga, and despite struggling to sustain a place in Chris Wilder's midfield with the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Joe Rothwell, Ollie Arblaster, Sydie Peck, Jairo Riedewald, and Tom Davies as competition, impressed the Potters enough to part ways with a reported €4 million (£3.4 million) to bring him to North Staffordshire.

Adding the bite and physicality that Stoke have lacked in the midfield for years, Soumare will almost certainly be starting on the opening day.

Sorba Thomas

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Sorba Thomas joined Stoke for just less than £2 million last summer from Huddersfield Town, and with ten goals and 11 assists in 45 league games in his first year at the club, rightly took home all the individual accolades.

The Welsh international covered as a wing-back and right-back across last campaign due to injuries, but is most effective out on the left where he can cut in on his dangerous right foot.

Should Stoke successfully fend off interest for his services, his place in the starting XI on the opening day is a given.

Lee Dong-Gyeong

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South Korean outlet Chosun Daily reported Stoke's interest in 28-year-old Ulsan attacking-midfielder Lee Dong-Gyeong in the middle of July, with personal terms and a fee having been agreed, with only a work permit preventing the move from following through.

With compatriot Bae Jun-Ho seemingly on his way to French giants Lyon, a gap in the number ten role looks to have been opened, and the Ulsan star and Korean international looks like the primary candidate to fill it.

Million Manhoef

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Million Manhoef joined Stoke in January 2024 from Vitesse for around €4 million (£3.4 million), and has remained a regular in the Potteries ever since his arrival.

With 18 goals and ten assists in exactly a century of appearances for Stoke across all competitions, the Dutchman is entering the final year of his deal at the club, with fears an exit may be on the cards sooner rather than later.

Robins will hope to tie the 24-year-old down to fresh terms sooner rather than later, as there is no doubting that, on his day, he is among the Championship's best wide players.