2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Peter Smith)
Mark Robins and the Stoke City recruitment team will have already long been flicking through the big old catalogue Championship free agents 2025 edition. There are some interesting names in there this year for teams who are trying to rebuild on a budget, dictated by the EFL's financial fair play rules as Stoke will be as they prepare for the 2025/26 campaign. There may be room in the budget, particularly if a player is sold, to fund a signing or two but there will also be a big fight to get the best of those available for nothing when their contracts run out at their current clubs in June.
Starting with goalkeeper, Freddie Woodman and Angus Gunn have been regulars at Preston North End and Norwich City respectively - and Stoke know Gunn well from his time on loan at the bet365 Stadium under Michael O'Neill. There are familiar faces among the list of defenders too, such as Liam Lindsay, who joined Preston from Stoke. CJ Egan-Riley has starred for Burnley this season and wants to stay there.
Ciaron Brown has been a stand-out player for Oxford United - and Gary Rowett saying he hopes he'll be fit for next season after an injury blow suggests he might have an option on his deal - and Swansea City are hoping to keep hold of Harry Darling. In midfield there are Robins old boy Jamie Allen at Coventry, Lungi Sorensen and Emiliano Marcondes at Norwich and perennial Stoke foe Barry Bannan at Sheffield Wednesday. Up front, Nahki Well is almost worth signing from Bristol City just so he can't score against Stoke again.
Emil Riis is available from Preston and Sam Bell's progress has stuttered at Bristol City, like Rhian Brewster at Sheffield United. Who catches your eye? Join the debate in the comments section. BETWEEN THE STICKS Freddie Woodman (Preston North End), Angus Gunn (Norwich City) AT THE BACK CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Junior Firpo (Leeds United), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Liam Lindsay (Preston North End), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers), Kenneth Paal (Queens Park Rangers), Harry Darling (Swansea City), Matt Clarke (Derby County), Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion), Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough), Sam Byram (Leeds United), Steve Cook (Queens Park Rangers), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Dimitrious Goutas (Cardiff City), Kane Wilson (Derby County) IN THE MIDDLE Jamie Allen (Coventry City), Josh Brownhill (Burnley), Jacob Lungi Sorensen (Norwich City), Billy Mitchell (Millwall), John Swift (West Bromwich Albion), Jonjo Shelvey (Burnley), Emiliano Marcondes (Norwich City), Ryan Ledson (Preston North End), Josuha Guilavogui (Leeds United), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Adam Forshaw (Blackburn Rovers), Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Liam Thompson (Derby County), Andre Dozzell (Portsmouth) UP FRONT Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers), Duncan Watmore (Millwall), Andreas Weimann (Blackburn Rovers), Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion), Nathan Redmond (Burnley), Joao Pedro (Hull City), Emil Riis (Preston North End), Sam Bell (Bristol City), Yakou Meite (Cardiff City), Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers), Michael Frey (Queens Park Rangers), Onel Hernandez (Norwich City), Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United), Nahki Wells (Bristol City), Ashley Barnes (Burnley) While you're here, we have launched a new WhatsApp group to deliver the latest Stoke news directly to your phone.
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