Stoke City player exit looms if Harry Amass, Man United agreement reached | OneFootball

Stoke City have been linked with Sheffield Wednesday loanee Harry Amass ahead of the January transfer window

Stoke City have been linked with a January move for left-back Harry Amass, who is on loan in the EFL Championship with Sheffield Wednesday from Manchester United, which may indicate a winter exit for the Belgium-linked Eric Bocat.

Despite having conceded eight goals in their last four league outings, Stoke City have maintained the best defensive record in the Championship after 21 games, having conceded just 20 goals.

Their defence has been a huge factor in their push for a play-off place this campaign, with former Coventry City boss Mark Robins laying the foundations for a solid back line.

Interestingly, the Potters had the second-worst defensive record in the league last season, with only Plymouth Argyle conceding more xG (expected goals), according to FotMob, which makes the transformation in the defence this campaign all the more impressive when considering the fact that it is almost all the same personnel.

Aaron Cresswell, who was signed on a free transfer from West Ham during the summer, has been the only major change in the back line, which has resulted in French left-back Eric Bocat seeing his game time reduced as a consequence.

Bocat was linked with a move back to Belgium this summer, with Standard Liege reportedly interested in signing the 26-year-old, and rumours over a potential deal resurfaced not too long ago.

With The Daily Mail reporting that Robins' side are interested in a deal for Sheffield Wednesday's on-loan left-back Harry Amass, a January exit for Bocat is likely on the cards.

Any deal Stoke City make for Harry Amass likely spells the end of Eric Bocat's time at the club

With Cresswell and Bocat the only two senior left-backs currently in the Potters' ranks, adding a third makes little sense, especially as Bocat's game time has significantly reduced in comparison to last season.

The Frenchman was signed in the summer of 2024 from Sint-Triuden in Belgium for around £1 million, and made 30 Championship appearances last season as Stoke narrowly avoided relegation.

Yet this season, Bocat has played in less than half of the league games he has been available for, making just ten league appearances, with only six of those coming as starts.

Amass, on the other hand, has started every single Championship game he has been available for since his move to Wednesday this summer, winning the club's Player of the Month award for November.

Stoke are not alone in the race to sign the Manchester United full-back, however, with 12 other clubs reportedly interested in a January deal for the in-demand defender.

Any deal the Potters may make with United will largely depend on the future of Bocat being resolved, and with interest in the Frenchman coming out of Belgium once more, his situation is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Mark Robins will be eyeing January arrivals at Stoke City, including Harry Amass, as the Potters mount a play-off push

Having failed to finish above 14th since their return to the Championship in 2018, Stoke are mounting a real push for a top-six finish this campaign, much to the surprise of many.

The Potters have long underperformed since their relegation from the Premier League, but now finally look to have turned a corner with Robins at the helm.

Stoke have been linked with Sheffield United forward Louie Barry, who looks likely to be recalled by parent club Aston Villa, as well as RB Salzburg midfielder Mamady Diambou, ahead of the January window, as Robins looks to have a real push for the play-offs.

Amass would likely prove to be an excellent addition and be a much more youthful option than that of Cresswell, who is unlikely to be able to play in all the club's games for the rest of the season.

Any deal for Amass would be a huge blow for Wednesday, who are already having to contest with a depleted squad, but what would be their loss would be Stoke's game, and Amass could prove to be the missing piece of the puzzle needed for the Potters to secure a play-off place.