PATIENCE IS A CITY VIRTUE!

Potters closing in on latest addition to Mark Robins' squad

- Peter Smith

STOKE City are hoping to have their patience rewarded as they try to make Tomas Rigo a key addition in the last chapter of the transfer window.

Nine new players signed up by mid-August means that Stoke have been able to switch their focus on a new recruit for central midfield for the final fortnight before deadline day.

It has been a priority area for incomings after sanctioning the exits of Wouter Burger and Sol Sidibe to help fund what is proving to be a rejuvenating summer.

Rigo has been a prominent name on their shopping list but they have had to wade through protracted negotiations particularly because he is currently helping Banik Ostrava try to qualify for the budget-boosting league phase of the Europa Conference League.