Stoke City keen to sign Leicester City player despite clear transfer roadblock | OneFootball

Stoke City have identified Harry Souttar as a potential addition this summer, but would only sign the Leicester defender on loan

Stoke City started the summer window in scintillating fashion, securing five deals in quickfire succession, but since then, things have gone somewhat cold in the Potteries, as their terms over the return of a former defender have now been revealed.

Indeed, Stoke's summer window got off to a flyer, with Mark Robins helping to get five new additions over the line before the beginning of pre-season.

Each of Joshua Griffiths, Djibril Soumare, Svante Ingelsson, Ethan Galbraith, and Luke Graham have all walked through the doors at the bet365 Stadium in recent weeks.

However, since the addition of Graham over three weeks ago, things have been quiet around the place, as the Potters' pre-season camp in Austria has been and done, finishing with a 6-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in two 70-minute games.

Now, transfer business is expected to pick up speed once again, as Stoke's conditions over a deal for a former defender have since been revealed.

Stoke City are interested in Leicester City defender Harry Souttar - on one condition

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Under former Coventry City head coach Mark Robins, Stoke displayed signs of what they are capable of under the 56-year-old in the early stages of last season, fighting amongst the Sky Blues and Middlesbrough in the top three by November.

However, a disappointing collapse in form saw the Potters slip down the table, and eventually into 17th place by the end of the campaign.

Robins will be keen to ensure that his side are once again fighting in and amongst the automatic promotion places once again next year, but this time, stay there.

With Scottish defender Graham having joined from Dundee, the 22-year-old provides another option at the back for Robins, especially after the departure of Ashley Phillips from his loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur.

Though Stoke don't seem to be satisfied with that area just yet, as despite each of Ben Wilmot, Bosun Lawal, Maksym Talovierov, and Ben Gibson also in their ranks, a move for Leicester City defender Harry Souttar is on the cards.

It has now been revealed by Alan Nixon via Patreon that, alongside competition from West Ham United, Sheffield United, and Wrexham, Stoke are eager to complete a deal, though only on loan.

Leicester's reported £10 million asking price has seemingly cooled interest in the Aussie, with each club viewing that price as too steep for a player who has managed just two league appearances in the past 18 months due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Souttar, 27, came through the ranks at Dundee United and then Stoke, with whom he would make 70 appearances across all competitions before joining Leicester in January 2023 for around £15 million, where he has managed just 18 appearances across all competitions for the Foxes.

Having impressed as captain for Australia at the recent World Cup in North America, Souttar has emerged as a target for numerous Championship clubs, but Leicester's asking price has put teams off.

Stoke would be interested in sanctioning the return of the defender, though only on loan, and whether the Foxes would be willing to agree to a deal under those terms, at this stage, remains to be seen.

Mark Robins eyes Harry Souttar's Stoke City return but faces a tricky deal amid Championship interest

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With Stoke having emerged as contenders for Souttar's signature this summer, a deal looks to be far from easy to complete.

Interest from the likes of West Ham, Sheffield United, and Wrexham likely drives up the Aussie's price, and with Leicester in no position to sell on the cheap, they will probably remain stubborn in their stance.

Souttar would massively improve Robins' defence, though with a deal looking to be tricky, whether this is one they can get over the line remains to be seen.