Stoke City join Portsmouth and Millwall in race for to sign £500k Sheffield Wednesday star | OneFootball

Stoke City have joined Portsmouth and Millwall in the race for Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson this month

Stoke City are the latest club to have their name linked with a move for Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson, who could be on his way out of Hillsborough before the end of the month, with both Millwall and Portsmouth pursuing the Swede's signature.

According to Darren Witcoop via X, Stoke are monitoring Ingelsson's situation at Wednesday, but face competition from both Millwall and Portsmouth for the midfield enforcer.

The Potters are in the midst of a battle for the top six, having spent much of their season in those positions but dropping out recently, and are looking to climb their way back into the top six with some key additions this window.

Ingelsson appears to be one of them, though they will have to overcome competition from Championship rivals Millwall and Portsmouth for his signature before the end of the month, in a saga which could come right down to the wire.

Stoke City are the latest side to register an interest in Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson

Indeed, Ingelsson has been a man in demand for much of this window, with both Millwall and Portsmouth interested in the towering Swede.

Millwall, who have just completed the signing of another former Owls midfielder in the form of Barry Bannan this window, have seen a bid rejected this month for Ingelsson, with the Owls keen to raid the South Yorkshire club before the end of the window.

Portsmouth are also said to be determined to add Ingelsson to their midfield ranks this month, having already completed a deal for Derby County's Ebou Adams to bolster their side.

Now, it appears as though Stoke are adding extra competition to this saga, with Mark Robins' side keen to add some more bodies to their roster amid an array of injuries ravaging their ranks.

Alan Nixon reported that a fee of around £500k would be required to prise the 27-year-old away from Hillsborough this month, with whoever matches the Owls' valuation first standing the best chance of obtaining his signature.

Whilst Stoke are not exactly short of options in midfield, boasting the likes of Tomas Rigo, Ben Pearson, Tatsuki Seko, Steven Nzonzi, Lewis Baker, and even Bosun Lawal, Robins appears keen to add another fresh pair of legs to his side.

Baker has spent nearly three months out injured, whilst Nzonzi's contract is due to expire at the end of the season, with the veteran, as yet, showing no signs that he will renew for another year.

Ingelsson would add a different dimension to the Potters' midfield, though they must overcome strong competition and match Wednesday's valuation if they want his signature this month.

After a miserable seven years back in the Championship since relegation from the Premier League, Stoke are looking to make their eighth season back in the second tier their best one yet.

The Potters are yet to record a top-half finish in the Championship since their return in 2018, with their last top-half finish in this division coming nearly 18 years ago when they achieved promotion to the top flight in 2nd.

Robins is looking to guide the club not only into the top-half this season, but into the play-off places, having spent much of the season in the top-six before a drop-off in form in the past couple of months.

The additions of Milan Smit on loan with the obligation to buy for £4.8 million from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles and Gavin Bazunu on loan from Southampton have been the only two additions made in the Potteries thus far this month, but one or two more are expected to arrive through the door before the window slams shut.

Ingelsson could well be one of those, but with Stoke treading the fine line to comply with FFP regulations, whether they are able to pay the £500k fee required for the Swede remains to be seen.