Derby County & Swansea City should ready moves for Stoke City outcast | OneFootball

Derby County and Swansea City should be preparing moves for Stoke City defender Maksym Talovierov before the summer deadline

Stoke City defender Maksym Talovierov could be on his way out of the Potteries in the next week or so, as Football League World takes a look at two Championship clubs that should look to sign the towering defender.

Stoke City have not had the start to the campaign they would have hoped for. After knocking Oldham Athletic out of the League Cup, the Potters have suffered back-to-back Championship defeats to Swansea City and Southampton, as they too would crash out of the League Cup at the hands of Premier League Hull City 5-4 on penalties.

Absent from their defeat to the Tigers was Ukrainian defender Talovierov, who has failed to have the impact in North Staffordshire those at the club would have hoped for following his arrival from Plymouth Argyle last summer.

Robins confirmed in a post-match interview with Stoke-on-Trent Live that the 26-year-old was not injured, and refused to elaborate on his absence, as the defender, who has been used as a substitute in both Championship defeats, could well be on his way out sooner rather than later.

Maksym Talovierov has had a difficult spell at Stoke City and could leave before the deadline

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Talovierov, who has represented Ukraine on eight occasions, began his career in the Czech Republic with SK Dynamo Ceske Budejovice, Sparta Prague, and Slavia Prague, before joining Austrian side LASK in January 2023.

He’d make 67 appearances for the current Champions of Austria before securing a £1.7 million move to Plymouth in January 2025, and though he impressed, especially in cup clashes with Liverpool and Manchester City, he was unable to keep the Pilgrims afloat and joined Stoke for a similar fee six months later.

He found himself behind each of Ben Wilmot, Bosun Lawal, and Ashley Phillips in the pecking order last season, limited to just 13 starts in 16 Championship appearances, whilst predominantly being used in his unfavoured right-back role due to the absence of Junior Tchamadeu.

Now, with the addition of Luke Graham, Talovierov’s minutes look even more insecure, and following Tuesday’s absence, an exit looks likely, as FLW takes a look at two Championship clubs that should plot a move for the Ukrainian before the deadline.

Derby County

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Under John Eustace, Derby County have been a well-oiled machine, though the Rams haven’t undergone the start to the campaign they’d have wished for.

Defeat at home to Lincoln City knocked them out of the League Cup in the first round, as Charlton Athletic would take all three points in a 2-1 result to the Addicks at The Valley, whilst Cardiff City would claim a point in a 2-2 draw at Pride Park last weekend.

Absent from both of those games was 29-year-old centre-back Matt Clarke, who is set for at least three months on the sidelines after sustaining a calf injury in the defeat to Lincoln.

This has left just Dion Sanderson and Sondre Langås as the Rams' only recognised senior centre-backs, and whilst Craig Forsyth can operate there if required, the 37-year-old left-back is not an ideal candidate to be starting week-in, week-out in the second tier anymore.

Talovierov, who will likely be available for around £1 million, would be an excellent option for Eustace at the back, capable of playing in a back three or four.

The towering Ukrainian is a no-nonsense defender, something Eustace will enjoy, with his aggression and aerial dominance something the former midfielder would be keen to utilise.

Rams, who should look to take advantage of Stoke’s mishap ASAP.

Swansea City

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Like Derby, Swansea City are not blessed with options at centre-back, with the Welsh outfit having seen Australian international Cameron Burgess suffer an Achilles injury in their League Cup defeat to Birmingham City the other week, ruling him out for the majority of the season.

Whilst Stephen Welsh’s arrival on a free transfer from Celtic gives Vitor Matos another option to play alongside Ben Cabango at the back, those two are the only current recognised senior centre-backs in the squad who are fit.

The Swans, according to West London Sport, have been linked with a move for Queens Park Rangers defender Jake Clarke-Salter, but with the former Chelsea youth player having struggled with injuries throughout his career, he may be best to be avoided, as Swansea should plot a move for Talovierov instead.

Like Cabango, Talovierov is defence-first and would offer an excellent alternative to the Welsh international in the heart of the Swans' defence alongside a more athletic, ball-playing defender.

Capable of operating at right-back if required too, the six-foot-five-inch defender would offer brilliant cover in that area of the pitch, and having found surprise success with the purchase of Josh Tymon from the Potters a few years ago, Swansea