Stoke City linked with transfer bid for Poland international
The centre-back is a wanted man this summer
Stoke City are being linked with a bid for Poland and Jagiellonia Białystok centre-back Mateusz Skrzypczak.
The Polish press claim that Stoke, Widzew Lodz, Rapid Vienna and Skrzypczak’s first club Lech Poznan are all keen on the defender, who has won his first two senior international caps this year.
Meczyki report: “Mateusz Skrzypczak has had a breakthrough season. As a Jagiellonia player, he was named defender of the year and was also called up to the national team.
“The 24-year-old could soon become the subject of an interesting transfer. This is facilitated by the relatively low release clause
“The stopper has already received an offer from Widzew, which is very attractive financially. However, the Łódź team must expect competition from Lech.
“We also cannot forget about the interest from foreign teams. According to our information, the leader of the “Pride of Podlasie” is on the radars of Stoke City and Rapid Vienna.”
Stoke are in the market for a centre-back after Ashley Phillips returned to Tottenham Hotspur following a season on loan and Michael Rose was released.
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A potential boost for Stoke City this week as Ryan Mmaee suitors Standard Liege ended a troubled relationship with former owners 777 Partners.
Standard were initially seized as an asset by the Belgian government last year when 777 descended into financial turmoil, before A-Cap, the club’s largest creditor assumed control.
No one is expecting a subsequent transfer frenzy but they have been freed up to think about the future. It is claimed in Belgium that they will have a transfer budget of about one million euros as they deal with debts of 12 million euros.
Mmaee’s advisors have been exploring other opportunities around Europe and further afield but Standard Liege, where he played as a teenager, seem to be in pole position at the moment.
A Mmaee fee is not particularly likely to change the shape of Stoke’s own transfer window but it will be an important chunk to tick off the wage bill and one less headache for Mark Robins when he returns for pre-season on June 26.
Mmaee hasn’t played since August last year, having been injured through the entirety of a loan spell at Rapid Vienna and not getting on the pitch when he returned to the Potteries in January.
