Walters reveals level of research to formulate new Potters squad

HERE won't have been two words trotted out much more often in reviews of Stoke City's transfer business over the past decade than 'due' and 'diligence'.

- Peter Smith

After all, Jon Walters has shipped out 21 senior players during his 17 months as sporting director but it defeats the object of a clear out if you are going to make the same Ryan Mmaee-shaped mistakes as you restock the changing room.

Checks on a target like Sorba Thomas - Walters is on good terms with Craig Bellamy and assistant manager James Rowberry is in the Wales camp - will be more straightforward than it must have been for players brought in from France, Portugal and Czechia like Lamine Cisse, Robert Bozenik and Tomas Rigo.

"That's a collective effort," said Walters. "The recruitment team will do a hell of a lot of due diligence on every player. That's not just how they play but the amount of reports we have on players going back a number of years.

"You can show players when you speak to them and present to them how much we've seen of them over the last three or four years or whatever it might be.

"Character references are huge. You want to bring people into the building that have that desire and a little edge about them - and want to be here. That's a huge thing to have players who want to be here and play for this club.

"There's a lot of work that goes into that. What are they like when they're in the building? What are they like around the building? Are they good people? What do their coaches say about them? What do their teachers say about them? Friends, ex-teammates...