Could Stoke opt to swoop for up-and-coming talent?

STOKE CITY

- Brian Dick

STAR TURN: Tyler Bindon has been an impressive performer at the back during his Sheffield United loan spell.

STOKE City have made a good start to the season and given themselves hope of a first promotion challenge since relegation in 2018.

Sunday’s 2-0 win at Norwich City, their second of 2026 has catapulted them back up to eighth and while they are a couple of victories off the automatic promotion places, they are well in the mix for the playoffs.

All of which means the coming weeks will be key as Jon Walters and Mark Robins try to make the right moves in the transfer window to enable the Potters to go on and not only maintain but step up their challenge.

Clearly there isn’t the scope to throw millions at permanent transfers and Stoke made decent use of the loan window last summer. However, like every Championship club some work, others don’t.

Ashley Phillips has been a success, the jury is still out on Divin Mubama but Jamie Donley has already gone back to Tottenham and been reallocated to Oxford United.

Indeed clubs up and down the division are doing likewise, looking to offload the loans that haven't worked, while parent clubs are also looking to recall and reallocate just as Spurs did with Donley.

Here's some Premier League loan players who could be on the move and cross Stoke’s radar in the coming weeks.

LEWIS KOUMAS

(winger, Birmingham City on loan from Liverpool)