The free agents available to Stoke City and the wingers who could tempt Mark Robins
The list of free agents from England, Scotland and Ireland who are still available to sign in the Championship after deadline day
Stoke City could not find the right winger at the right price to add to Mark Robins’ squad before the transfer deadline. But clubs in the Championship can still bring in free agents to bolster their options outside of the window.
There are some interesting names which have been added to the free agent directory over the last few weeks, including former Liverpool and Rangers winger Ryan Kent, who has left Fenerbahce. The 28-year-old is apparently closing in on a move to Persepolis in the Iranian league, where Steven Nzonzi’s Sepahan currently top the table.
Manchester City youth graduate Ben Knight left Real Murcia yesterday. He came through the ranks with Josh Wilson-Esbrand and has had loans at Crewe Alexandra and Stockport County before trying his luck in Spain but the 22-year-old son of former England cricketer Nick Knight has been on the fringes this term.
Left-back Brandon Williams, aged 24, has stayed without a club since leaving Manchester United last summer while 24-year-old Stoke old boy Tashan Oakley-Boothe, who came through the academy at Tottenham, hasn’t been able to find anywhere to lay down his roots and play regularly.
This is not a route that Stoke are not all that likely to go down. Robins already has his own players who are coming back from injury and need to build up minutes and sharpness to make a difference in the Championship without adding any more projects. But still, it has happened before, with Alex Neil signing Ciaran Clark in a defensive crisis last season. Clark is on the list now.
These are the players from the UK and Ireland who are available if push came to shove, available on free transfers.
Goalkeepers
Lewis Thomas – Age: 22 – Last club: Unattached
Jack McIntyre – Age: 22 – Last club: Everton
Right-backs
Fankaty Dabo – Age: 29 – Last club: Raith Rovers
Liam Grimshaw – Age: 30 – Last club: Dundee United
Martin Kelly – Age: 34 – Last club: West Brom
Kwaku Oduroh – Age: 22 – Last club: Derby County
