Stoke City doubts cast over Ipswich Town transfer raid with Derby & Wrexham keen - "I've just got a feeling" | OneFootball

Sammie Szmodics has been linked with Stoke City among numerous other division rivals

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Stoke City are one of several teams said to be interested in signing Ipswich Town attacking-midfielder Sammie Szmodics before the transfer window slams shut.

With the countdown to the transfer deadline slowly approaching on the horizon, teams across the Premier League and EFL are making the final preparations to their squads.

Stoke are no different, with the Potters looking to add the final touches in what could ignite a real push for the play-off places.

Milan Smit and Gavin Bazunu have been the only two additions made so far, with links to the likes of Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson also circulating.

Though, as per Alan Nixon's Patreon, the Potters have also been credited with a potential move for Ipswich's Sammie Szmodics, they face strong competition from both Derby County and Wrexham for his signature.

With Stoke treading the line in terms of FFP, their spending has been limited this month and will likely continue to do so, and with Ipswich unlikely to sanction a loan move for Szmodics, a move is unlikely.

Though, as ever, the game we all know and love is full of twists and turns, and nothing can be completely ruled out, including the potential addition of Szmodics to Mark Robins' side.

Sammie Szmodics is unlikely to sign for Stoke City this January amid strong links to Derby County and Wrexham

Football League World's Stoke fan pundit, Pete O'Connell, has provided their thoughts on the potential signing of Szmodics before the end of the month, and whether they would welcome such a deal.

Pete told FLW: "I've seen we've been linked to Sammie Szmodics. I don't know whether it's true or not. One thing I would say is a bit of a common theme with our transfers is that they seem to be keeping them really in-house."It's always players that we're not linked to and players that no one's really thought of that we seem to sign, like Milan Smit last weekend, being a case in point that not seeing his name anywhere, then all of a sudden he's on the verge of signing."I don't know why, but I've just got a feeling that Szmodics will end up at somewhere like Derby, Wrexham or some of the other clubs that have been linked to him."I mean, I'd welcome a deal, absolutely, yes. We're desperate for forwards. We've got five forwards, all injured."We've obviously just bought Smit, and he's the new guy. There's a bit of confusion over whether he's actually suspended for Saturday. Some people say that he is, some people say that he isn't. I haven't seen anything either way officially."Yeah, if we could get Szmodics in, brilliant. But I've just got a feeling that, I don't know why, I just don't think that he will end up here somehow."

Mark Robins is eyeing final additions to the Stoke City squad before the window deadline

With just days remaining of the transfer window, Robins will be keen to bring one or two more bodies into his squad to help alleviate the current injury crisis, which has ravaged his side.

The Potters had up to 11 first-team players out of action due to injury or suspension for their last outing away to Birmingham City, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Fortunately, Stoke are expecting a few of those absentees to return to the side for their home game against Southampton on Saturday, though the likes of Viktor Johansson, Gavin Bazunu, Sam Gallagher, Junior Tchamadeu, Robert Bozenik, and Divin Mubama have some way to go before their returns.

With the top six well within their sight, Robins will be more than keen to get some extra bodies in before the deadline to help to boost their promotion prospects.

Though the Szmodics deal would be an excellent one to get over the line, whether Stoke will be able to compete with either Derby or Wrexham for his signature remains to be seen.