Stoke City player wanted by top flight club as 7-figure Potters asking price emerges | OneFootball

Italian top-flight sides Parma Calcio and Sassulo have emerged as suitors for Eric Bocat

Stoke City have set their asking price for left-back Eric Bocat, who is now experiencing fresh transfer interest from the top flight of Italian football.

The Frenchman is tied down at the bet365 Stadium until 2028 after arriving from Sint-Truiden in the summer of 2024 for a reported undisclosed fee - and this fresh interest comes after a previous link to Standard Liege.

As per journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the aforementioned Belgian side tried to bring Bocat back to the Pro League earlier in the window by submitting a loan to buy offer worth €1.6m.

Even though the Potters reportedly rejected that Liege approach, Tavolieri has provided another update on Bocat's situation, with a new club now involved.

Stoke City set asking price for Eric Bocat amid Parma Calcio interest

In an update from Tavolieri via X, Serie A side Parma have identified Bocat as a target and are apparently discussing a deal structured as an initial loan with an obligation to buy.

The journalist notes that their executives are due to meet this Saturday to determine whether to move forward and submit an offer.

Stoke, however, are understood to be holding firm on their valuation, with Tavolieri mentioning in the tweet that the Championship club want at least €2 million (£1.73 million) before sanctioning an exit this month.

This amount is just €400k more than what the Potters turned down earlier in January - so it could well be that perhaps a bidding war starts, as Sassuolo are also name-dropped by Tavolieri as keen on Bocat.

Parma Calcio and Sassuolo circling for Stoke City left-back Eric Bocat - could he be tempted by Italian Job?

While Bocat has been firmly in the first-team picture since his arrival from Sint-Truiden, his game time has dipped this season, which may be fuelling said interest from abroad.

After making 30 league appearances in his first campaign with Stoke in 2024/25, he has started only a handful of league games this term - six exactly - with competition at left-back from the likes of the experienced Aaron Cresswell, and in more recent weeks Bosun Lawal.

For Parma, 26-year-old Bocat probably represents an attractive, yet affordable option. Which is why the proposed loan with obligation to buy would also allow them to spread the finances out and test Bocat in Serie A before fully committing.

This is mentioned because in 2015, Parma were declared bankrubt by Italian court and forced to reform in the fourth-tier - after piling up multiple debts worth €218m, according to ESPN.

If Parma do end up formalising their interest with a loan-plus-obligation offer at or above Stoke’s apparent €2m valuation, the Staffordshire outfit will face a genuine decision over whether to cash in on a player who, while not first choice this season, still bolsters their defensive options.

But until a concrete bid arrives that meets their demands, though, Stoke are perhaps likely to keep playing hardball. They'll know that Bocat’s contract length puts them in a position of strength as interest continues to build in the left-back.