CITY READY FOR OUTSIDE INTEREST

STOKE City are braced to have their resolve tested to keep key assets including Million Manhoef, Bae Junho and Wouter Burger this summer but, as it stands, Viktor Johansson looks like he will stay.

- Peter Smith

Stoke will have to wheel and deal to a certain extent in the transfer window as they operate in a three-year rolling financial fair play cycle that includes Alex Neil and Ricky Martin's unprecedented shopping spree from 2023.

Interest is expected from Europe in Manhoef and Junho and it remains to be seen what kind of offer would tempt Jon Walters and Mark Robins to the negotiating table.

But Financial Fair Play challenges or not, they showed they do not have their backs against the wall by turning down a January offer for Burger from FC Midtjylland. Burger went on to find his best form of the season and Stoke would be prepared to reject bids again unless a deal was in their interest.

Player of the year Johansson, aged 26, is believed to be very happy at Stoke, having joined from Rotherham 12 months ago. He captained the team for most of the campaign post-Christmas and his displays gave him the chance to stake his claim as Sweden number one.