Food for thought: 3 signings that led to Stoke’s relegation including £18.3m signing

Three Signings That Led To Stoke’s Unfortunate Relegation From The Premier League

Stoke City dropped into the Championship on Saturday as they let a 2-1 lead slip at home to Crystal Palace. The defeat extended their winless Premier League run to 13 matches.

While the Stoke fans were distraught after the final whistle went against Palace, goalkeeper Jack Butland attributed a large portion of the responsibility for their relegation this weekend to the club’s recruitment policy.

Indeed, it was a poor transfer program that led to Stoke’s demotion, with many players not even playing under Paul Lambert. One win from last 14 games was enough for Lambert’s men to go down.

With Stoke’s recruitment policy slammed thick and thin, here are three bad signings that led to their relegation.

Saido Berahino

Saido Berahino joined Stoke from West Brom with a lot of fanfare but failed to deliver. Since moving to the Potters, the striker has failed to score a single goal.

Much was expected out of the former West Brom man but he has been nothing less than a disaster, proving to be one of the worst signings in Stoke history.

Giannelli Imbula

Back in February 2016, Giannelli Imbula became Stoke City’s record signing when they signed him for £18.3m. The Potters spent heftily on transfer deadline day to bring in the midfielder from FC Porto, with Imbula replacing Xherdan Shaqiri as the club’s most expensive signing.

After a bright start to his Stoke career, the 25-year-old faded and it was clear that the midfielder was just a flash in the pan. A strong and powerful midfielder, Imbula was shipped out on loan to Toulouse after a forgettable 18 months in England.

Kevin Wimmer

Stoke’s second most expensive transfer ever didn’t feature at all under Lambert. Instead, Lambert put the defender on a special fitness regime to get him match-fit.

The Austrian was a bigger summer signing for Lambert’s predecessor Mark Hughes but has not featured in any of Lambert’s match-day squads since his appointment in January.

Wimmer has not played for the first-team since coming on as a substitute in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on January 15.