3 players Stoke City must sign in January transfer window
Stoke City have been highly erratic this season, uninspiring at the back and clueless in the attack at times. While they have sailed through opponents with minimal fuss in the last two games, there have been occasions where they were totally outplayed.
Gary Rowett is yet to find his best XI at Stoke, capable of battering teams in the Championship left, right and centre.
As Stoke harbour ambitions of bouncing back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, they would need some fresh faces in the winter transfer window to give them the much-needed push. With that in mind, here are three players Stoke must sign in the January transfer window.
Ollie Watkins (Brentford)
Ollie Watkins has enjoyed a good start to the new campaign, scoring four goals in six games for Brentford. He has earned good experience of Championship football and could be a great option for Stoke City against any kind of opposition.
Watkins is one of the most promising young strikers in the second tier of English football. The 22-year-old is a natural finisher who can create and take chances under pressure. He works hard off the ball and puts in defensive work too.
Watkins could be a masterstroke January signing for Rowett because the player knows where the goal is.
Jairo Riedewald (Crystal Palace)
Jairo Riedewald finds himself way down the pecking order at Crystal Palace following the arrival of fresh faces. Stoke could try nabbing him when the winter market opens.
Despite signing players in the summer transfer window, Stoke need extra cover both in defence and the midfield. Rowett can cover two areas by signing Riedewald from Palace. The former Ajax starlet can play anywhere across the defence and in the midfield, having represented Holland three times at international level.
The Dutchman is a very talented player and if utilised properly, he could be a gem of a signing for Stoke.
Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea)
Badou Ndiaye has left Stoke to re-join Galatasaray on loan and that has created a gap in the midfield. While Sam Clucas has come in, the Potters would need more quality and depth in January.
With that in mind, Rowett must improve his squad even further with a loan deal for exciting Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu. Ampadu has already played half a dozen times for Chelsea but looks to be way down the pecking order under Maurizio Sarri.
A loan move in January would certainly benefit the teenager and Chelsea, and the fact that he can play as either a centre-back or defensive midfielder means that he would be a top signing for Stoke.
Read more: Championship transfer XI of the summer featuring West Brom and Stoke City stars
Ampadu is the kind of player Stoke have been crying out for, as he has the ability to both create and destroy.
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