Stoke City could seal Million Manhoef upgrade if Potters break the bank to beat Sunderland to transfer | OneFootball

Stoke City are reportedly interested in Rio Ave's Brazilian winger Andre Luiz, as interest in Million Manhoef looms

Stoke City are one of the numerous English clubs that have registered an interest in Rio Ave's Brazilian winger Andre Luiz, with speculation surrounding a January departure for Million Manhoef looming.

Under Mark Robins, Stoke City have defied early expectations to be in and amongst the play-off picture over a third of the way into the EFL Championship season.

The Potters narrowly survived relegation to League One by the skin of their teeth last season, with a goalless draw away to Derby County on the final day enough to secure their safety in the second division for yet another year.

Stoke have exclusively underperformed since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018, never finishing higher than 14th as they enter their eighth consecutive year in the second tier this season.

But now with Robins at the helm and a summer of revamping the squad, Stoke have looked like a side reborn, sitting in 2nd place after 17 games, albeit ten points off 1st place Coventry City and only eight points off 17th place West Brom.

The Potters maintain the best defence in the division, having conceded just 12 goals in the league thus far, with only League One Stevenage bettering that record across the EFL.

Their attacking output had come under question in the early stages, but having put five past Bristol City and three past both Oxford United and Charlton Athletic, worries over their output in the final third quickly evaporated.

A key figure in their attack this season has been 23-year-old Million Manhoef, who has scored five and assisted one in 17 Championship outings so far this season.

Manhoef had previously been at the heart of interest from Leeds United last summer before deciding to sign Largie Ramazani instead, whilst Scottish side Celtic have also reportedly been keeping one eye on the Dutchman.

Stoke will be reluctant to see the winger leave this January, but should he do so, they seemingly have targeted someone in the event of his departure.

Portuguese outlet A Bola reported that Stoke are among numerous English sides monitoring Luiz's situation at Rio Ave, with the likes of Sunderland, Brentford, Portsmouth, and Norwich City also taking an interest in the Brazilian.

Luiz, 23, is in just his third season in Portugal, having initially moved to Europe with fellow Portuguese outfit Estrela da Amadora in the summer of 2023.

He moved to Rio Ave in January 2025, and this season he has been on fire in the top flight, scoring four and assisting four in 11 outings in the Portuguese League, attracting interest from both clubs in the Premier League and the EFL Championship.

However, Rio Ave are said to be demanding upwards of €15 million (£13.1 million) for the attacker, taking a firm stance on the player, with domestic rivals SC Braga also said to be interested in what could prove to be a stumbling block for a side like Stoke.

With Rio Ave demanding €15 million (£13.1 million) for Luiz, that could prove to be a major blow to Stoke's pursuit of the Brazilian, even in the event of a sale of Manhoef.

Stoke themselves are likely to demand upwards of an eight-figure sum to depart with Manhoef mid-season, with the Dutch winger being a key member of the Potters' ranks and a huge reason they are battling in the upper echelons of the division this campaign.

Robins' side had to battle to stay within the PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) this summer, and were forced into the premature sales of both Wouter Burger to Hoffenheim and, in particular, Sol Sidibe to PSV, though this meant a sale of Manhoef during the summer wasn't necessary.

In order for Stoke to obtain the signature, a few things must fall into place.

Manhoef's sale has to be a necessity for any deal to go through, with summer signing and French youth international winger Lamine Cisse having struggled to break into the side due to the Dutchman's form, whilst the Potters must also beat competition from Premier League sides for his signature and be willing to part with a significant amount of money.

The Potters have not paid an eight-figure fee for a player since the arrival of Benik Afobe from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018 for £12 million, having wasted a huge portion of their parachute payments in their first season back in the Championship.

Should Stoke secure Luiz's signature, he would become only the second Brazilian to ever play for the club after Wesley Moraes' woeful stint in Staffordshire.

Still only 23, Luiz is an exciting proposition for many English clubs, and the Potters may yet choose to ship off their Dutch dynamo to bring some Brazilian samba to the bet365 Stadium this January.