Stoke City must accelerate £7m Man United swoop after new blow | OneFootball

Stoke City should accelerate a move for Manchester United left-back Harry Amass following recent injury news regarding Aaron Cresswell

Stoke City opened their 2026/27 Championship campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea City, in which there remained glaring holes in the Potters' side that Mark Robins must address before the September deadline.

Eric Bocat's goal was cancelled out by strikes from Joseph Opoku and Adam Idah as Stoke fell to a home defeat on the opening day of the season to Swansea.

With Junior Tchamadeu suffering an injury in pre-season, Ben Wilmot started the game at right-back, and following an injury to Bosun Lawal just before half-time, the Potters have suffered yet another injury blow.

Also absent from their matchday squad was veteran left-back Aaron Cresswell, with it since being revealed that the former West Ham United defender is 'resigned to a long stay in the treatment room'.

Their lack of options in the full-back areas will be somewhat remedied by the arrival of Ben Johnson on loan from Ipswich Town, but Stoke should be looking for a long-term solution instead, and should accelerate a move for a former target.

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The left-back position has been a continuous area of problem for Stoke over recent years, with the likes of Rhys Norrington-Davies, Josh Tymon, Lynden Gooch, Enda Stevens, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Eric Bocat, and Aaron Cresswell, to name a few, having played there in recent seasons.

Last season, when injuries ruled out both Bocat and Cresswell, Ben Gibson was forced to deputise there on occasion, and as injury struck him down, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi was forced back there, as Stoke must once and for all find their long-term heir to this position, and can do so in the form of Manchester United youngster Harry Amass.

Amass, 19, is reportedly available for as little as £7 million plus add-ons this summer, with the Red Devils looking to cash in on the English youngster whilst they can.

Stoke had registered an interest in the left-back as recently as last January, but no move ever materialised, as Robins must revisit this deal and finally fix the Potters’ long-term struggles in that area.

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In what was his first taste of regular senior football, Amass thrived on loan at Sheffield Wednesday in the first half of last season under difficult circumstances, predominantly utilised as a wing-back under Henrik Pedersen.

The United loanee would scoop up various club awards for his excellent performances, scoring once and assisting once in 21 Championship games for the Owls, before being recalled and sent back out on loan to the second tier with Norwich City.

He made just one cameo appearance for the Canaries before injury cut his season short, as the England youth international headed back to the North West for treatment.

After featuring under Michael Carrick for United in pre-season and impressing, a permanent exit could be on the cards for the 19-year-old as Stoke mustn’t miss out on this potential bargain.

Why Harry Amass would be an excellent addition for Stoke City

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Capable of playing as either a left-back in a back four or as a wing-back in a back five, Amass offers excellent versatility, and although he hasn't played there professionally as yet, would surely be capable of deputising in a more advanced left-sided role.

During his spell with Wednesday, the English youngster displayed his capability of being effective in both attack and defence, winning Owls supporters over with his energy and technical brilliance in both areas of the game.

Still only 19, there is ample time for Amass to improve and develop his game, and with the Championship known for helping to develop some incredible talent over the years, there is no reason why the left-back can't join that list with Stoke.

The last 19-year-old Stoke signed on a permanent deal from Manchester United was Ryan Shawcross back in 2007, almost two decades ago, and that move didn't turn out too badly, and the Potters should look to complete a similar trick with Amass.

Mark Robins must target further reinforcements at Stoke City before the September deadline

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With five new faces through the doors, and deals for George Hirst and Ben Johnson from Ipswich Town to make it seven, there remains more business to be done for the Potters before the window slams shut at the beginning of September.

Another option or two in the final third after Hirst wouldn't go amiss, whilst moves for another midfielder and left-back should be on the cards, as Amass could fill the void of the latter.

After a decade of bottom-half finishes, Robins must stop the rot once and for all, and the addition of Amass would go a long way to helping his chances of doing just that.