Yahoo News Transfer beeline to Leicester City would be strong start for Stoke City summer window
There are lots of stats you can pick out from the last six, seven or eight seasons at Stoke City and make a strong case it has been a factor in how the club has ended up stuck in the wrong half of the Championship.
One of the ones it is hoped they will fix this summer will be to find a permanent number one. Stoke haven't signed a keeper to throw into their first team as a starter since Thomas Sorensen in 2008 although actually the succession planning with Asmir Begovic and Jack Butland was exactly how it should work when things are going like clockwork.
The more troublesome part is that no keeper has started more than 23 league games in the past four seasons since Butland's departure - and even Butland wasn't particularly assured of his place in his final year at the bet365 Stadium.
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In 2020/21, it was Adam Davies (17), Joe Bursik (15) and Angus Gunn (14). In 2021/22 it was Bursik (19), Jack Bonham (15) and Davies (12). In 2022/23 it was Bonham (23), Bursik (16) and Matija Sarkic (8). This season it has been Daniel Iversen (17), Bonham (14) and Mark Travers (13).
Stoke have tried to use the loan market for a key position and it hasn't given them a sure footing. Alex Neil couldn't believe it when Travers was recalled by Bournemouth in October just to deputise but his argument lost weight when Stoke then almost immediately had to recall Tommy Simkin from a loan at Solihull Moors for the same reason.
Iversen, like Travers before him, took a little bit of time to find his best form because he had spent the previous few months kicking his heels in the stands. But he has played a key role in Stoke's pull away from danger at the bottom of the Championship, some good saves and an increasingly reliable presence.
He has given as strong a hint as probably possible that he would like to come for good. He'll have one year left on his deal at Leicester and, although they might play financial hard ball, they might struggle to find another club who could pay much more than what Stoke could offer.
But Travers would be a good signing too, although he has just broken back into the Bournemouth team. So too would Viktor Johansson, who has stood out at Rotherham despite their relegation. There are others besides.
The point is that it would be a welcome start to Stoke's summer transfer business if they can sign a goalkeeper of their own who they and the players in front of them can trust to be their number one for next season and beyond.
Tony Waddington and Tony Pulis both knew the importance of having a goalkeeper to hang your hat on and you wouldn't argue with either of them about how to build a defence.
