Free Agent Close To Saying Yes To Stoke City

Former Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark is close to accepting a free transfer offer to join Stoke City, claims journalist Alan Nixon.

The seasoned defender was released by Newcastle United and is now a free agent. He is searching for a new team to restart his career.

The Potters are oFormer Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark is close to saying yes to a move to join Stoke City on a free transfer, according to journalist Alan Nixon. The veteran defender is a free agent following his release from Newcastle United and is currently looking for a new club to put his career back on track.He has suitors in the Championship, with the Potters expressing a strong desire to add him to their team.

Although manager Alex Neil has been busy signing players throughout summer, he believes his squad needs one more defender going forward.

 

Neil is optimistic that the six-foot-one-inch defender will be able to provide his defense with the kind of unity he needs because Stoke has already given up six goals in their first five league games.

The player is almost ready to agree to terms and join the Stoke City team.

Given his versatility and ability to play left back, Clark might give the Stoke City team more options.

He spent the previous season on loan with Sheffield United, where he struggled and only managed to play in ten Championship games.

 

 

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Stoke City news from StokeonTrentLive with a look at Bae Junho and the deal that brought him to the Potteries

Stoke City head of recruitment Jared Dublin has revealed they fought off interest from ‘Champions League level’ clubs to sign South Korean midfielder Bae Junho.

The 20-year-old made his debut at home to Preston on Saturday having signed a four-year contract after Stoke agreed a fee, thought to be around £2m, with K-League side Daejeon Hana Citizen. Dublin, who joined Stoke in June after spells at Sheffield United and Reading, says there was lots of interest in the South Korea youth international.

He said the deal was the culmination of hard work from the recruitment team as well as technical director Ricky Martin and manager Alex Neil: He added: “I think we are all really excited. I think the biggest thing for us with Junho is the fact he is a player with what we consider Premier League potential and talent. A player we feel can come in and help the group immediately, but be one for now but one for the future as well.

“To be honest, the amount of interest in this player far supersedes almost anyone I have dealt with, maybe barring Sander Berge at Sheffield United. We are talking interest from Champions League level clubs around Europe , teams in Italy who came in with serious interest last  Stoke City sent ‘learning’ message after Preston North End Stoke City vs Preston player ratings as home record smashed by Will Keane

“We are talking big teams in England as well who saw him as part of their future projects but I think with the hard work of Ricky, the gaffer, myself and the recruitment team we were able to show Juno we are the next step in his career, and the best next step that gives him the platform and the exposure to go and show everyone what he can do.

“Hopefully the fact he has come here has given us the confidence that he believes Stoke City and Alex Neil is the best next step for him. So, we are really excited.”

Dublin is quoted as part of a documentary filmed by Stoke covering Bae Junho’s arrival in England, his medical, meeting his team mates and his first training session. That’s available through the club’s website and on YouTube.

Junho, from Daegu in South Korea, was part of the South Korea under-20s side that reached the semi finals of the under-20s World Cup in Argentina this summer. He played in six games and scored in their last 16 win over Ecuador.

His was the 15th signing of an unprecedented summer transfer window at Stoke, with Alex Neil and his recruitment department almost completely rebuilding the squad.

He made his debut as a 71st minute substitute on Saturday but couldn’t save Neil’s side from a 2-0 defeat at home to Preston that leaves them 16th in the Championship with six points from their five games so far.

Stoke don’t have a game this weekend because of the international break but return to action on Saturday September 16 when they are away to Norwich.

Head of recruitment Dublin was brought in by Stoke after spending six years with Sheffield United from 2017 to 2023 then a brief spell with Reading.