Stoke City suffer transfer setback as bid for striker rejected | OneFootball

Stoke City have had a bid rejected for Sarpsborg striker Daniel Karlsbakk, who is valued at around £3.8 million

Stoke City have been one of the most active EFL clubs this summer thus far, and the Potters are seemingly looking to continue that trend by delving into the Scandinavian market.

Off the back of another disappointing year, Stoke are not messing around in the summer transfer window, having already made five additions to their squad.

Whilst only Steven Nzonzi and Lewis Baker remain their most notable departures at the moment, both leaving at the end of their current deals, head coach Mark Robins has shown his desire to overhaul the squad.

Joshua Griffiths joined as a backup keeper from West Bromwich Albion for £600k. Djibril Soumare, who spent last season on loan from Sheffield United, joined for €4 million (£3.4 million), and Svante Ingelsson has made the move from League One Sheffield Wednesday for around £1 million.

By far their biggest deal at this stage has been for Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith, who has joined for as much as £10 million per certain reports, with others claiming it to be far less, whilst Scottish defender Luke Graham has signed from Dundee for around £2 million despite heavy interest from elsewhere.

Now, the Potters are looking at the top end of the pitch, and are seemingly out to find their own Erling Haaland.

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Stoke are not short when it comes to strikers in their current ranks.

Each of Milan Smit, Robert Bozenik, Sam Gallagher, Nathan Lowe, and Emre Tezgel are contracted to the club, but with Robins preferring to play with just one centre-forward more often than not, it leaves little room for all five.

Exits are expected, especially with Pete O’Rourke reporting via X that the Potters are preparing to make a move for Norwegian striker Daniel Karlsbakk this summer.

Karlsbakk, 23, came through the ranks at Norwegian side Bryne, the same club that produced a certain Erling Haaland, before going on to have spells with Viking, Heerenveen, and most recently Sarpsborg.

Standing at six feet five inches, Karlsbakk is a physical specimen and has proven to be a nightmare for defenders to deal with across his career so far, which has led both Sheffield United and Middlesbrough to be linked with moves back in February.

Although he struggled with Heerenveen, scoring just twice in 39 games for the club, he finished as the Eliteserien’s top scorer in 2025, proving his worth in front of goal.

Now, Norwegian publication TV2 have reported that the Potters have seen a bid rejected for the towering centre-forward.

Though no fee has been quoted as yet, Transfermarkt has his value at around €4.5 million (£3.8 million), a similar price to which they paid for Smit this summer once his loan obligation became permanent.

The bid is believed to have been less than the £3.8 million Sarpsborg are requesting, as Stoke will decide whether to weigh up another bid or not at this stage.

After a decade of consecutive bottom-half finishes, Stoke are looking to do everything they can in the market to ensure that isn’t the case next season, as Karlsbakk could join an ever-growing list through the entrance at the bet365 Stadium.

Mark Robins must make a few big decisions up top as Stoke City target another centre-forward in Daniel Karlsbakk

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Should Karlsbakk indeed be a serious target for Stoke this summer, then Robins will have a few huge decisions to make regarding the futures of his current centre-forward options.

After a loan with Crewe Alexandra in League Two, it seems unlikely that Tezgel will be a big part of plans next year, whilst Lowe has shown signs of promise in loans with Walsall, Stockport County, and Wycombe Wanderers; whether he will be in Robins’ plans remains doubtful.

Gallagher has persistently struggled with injuries, and Alan Nixon previously reported via Patreon that Stoke were looking at options to move him this summer.

Smit has only just signed permanently, whilst Bozenik’s season was cut short last time around due to injury after joining last year from Boavista on a free transfer.

It seems as though Gallagher, Lowe, and Tezgel are the most likely to depart, as should Robins indeed make a serious move for Karlsbakk, then he will have a few huge decisions to make in the Potteries over the next few weeks and months regarding the futures of some of his squad.