Stoke City transfer stance becomes clearer as 7-figure loan-to-buy offer tabled by European club | OneFootball

Standard Liege have submitted a fresh bid for Stoke City left-back Eric Bocat

Belgian outfit Standard Liege have reignited their interest in Stoke City left-back Eric Bocat this January by submitting a fresh bid, but the Potters are set to reject their latest advances for the Frenchman.

As per Sacha Tavolieri via X, Standard Liege have submitted a loan offer for Stoke full-back Bocat this January, with the option to purchase the player for €1.6 million (£1.4 million).

Though Stoke are expected to reject this latest offer amid the Potters' current injury predicament in the full-back area, with Bocat himself having missed the club's last five league games in the treatment room.

Bocat, who signed for Stoke from fellow Belgian side Sint-Triuden in the summer of 2024, has fallen in the pecking order in the Potteries this campaign following the arrival of Aaron Cresswell on a free transfer from West Ham.

As a result, an exit from the bet365 Stadium is well and truly on the cards for Bocat, and though this latest offer is set to be rejected, Standard Liege's long-lasting interest in the Frenchman will likely pay off sooner rather than later.

Standard Liege have had a long-standing interest in Stoke City left-back Eric Bocat amid latest transfer update

Indeed, Standard's interest in Bocat is not a new revelation, with the Belgian club having registered their interest in the left-back as far back as this summer.

Though with Stoke's lack of options in that area of the pitch and given the English transfer window was already closed by the time that they registered their interest in the player, a deal was never completed.

In early December, rumours of a return for Bocat were once again circulating, with Standard naming him as their ‘number one target' for this upcoming window.

Now, the Belgian club seem to have taken their interest to the next stage in the form of an official bid for the Frenchman, and though this is set to be rejected, it's unlikely they will shy away from this deal anytime soon.

Eric Bocat's departure could cause a domino effect concerning Manchester United-linked star Harry Amass

With Aaron Cresswell and Bocat out injured in the left-back position and Junior Tchamadeu away at AFCON with Cameroon, Stoke were left without an available recognised senior full-back for each of their last three outings.

Maksym Talovierov, Bosun Lawal, and Ben Gibson, the latter of whom has also suffered a fresh injury issue following Stoke's 1-0 away win at Hull City, have all deputised at full-back amid the Potters' injury woes.

Should Bocat indeed leave, this would leave Stoke seriously short in that area of the pitch, which may explain why they have been so strongly linked with Manchester United left-back Harry Amass.

Amass spent the first half of the campaign on loan with Sheffield Wednesday, where, despite the Owls' on-field woes, the 18-year-old seriously impressed.

Stoke face competition for his signature, with Wednesday keen on bringing him back to Hillsborough for the remainder of the season, though

Should a sale for Bocat go through, it could well trigger a domino effect in Amass heading to the Potteries for the remainder of the season, with Stoke heavily pushing for a play-off place this campaign.