Stoke City have been linked with a deadline-day move for Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary after he submitted a transfer request. The 22-year-old is pushing for a move before the window closes, with several Championship clubs monitoring the situation.
Stoke's interest comes as they remain in talks to sell winger Sorba Thomas to Hull City. Should that deal be finalised, Cleary is viewed as a potential replacement to maintain the team's attacking threat from wide areas. The Potters, currently 24th in the Championship with zero points from three games, have scored three goals but conceded nine this season.
Reyes Cleary is a former West Bromwich Albion academy product who emerged as a standout performer for Barnsley in League One last season. The winger scored seven goals and provided 13 assists across 42 appearances in the 2025/26 campaign. He has started the new season in strong form, contributing a goal and an assist in Barnsley's victory over Leyton Orient. His consistent threat from the flank has attracted attention from the second tier.
Stoke City are not alone in their interest. Derby County and Blackburn Rovers have held a sustained interest in Cleary throughout the summer. Fellow Championship sides Millwall and Bristol City are also credited with an eye on the player. Cleary's valuation had previously deterred some suitors, but his formal transfer request could alter the dynamics of any potential deal. Mark McAdam said: "Reyes Cleary has handed in a transfer request in order to try and push through a move before the transfer window shuts."
Cleary represents both a short-term and long-term option for Stoke's attacking line. His profile as a direct, creative winger aligns with the role currently filled by Sorba Thomas. Securing Cleary would be an attempt to offset the potential departure of Thomas and add fresh impetus to a squad seeking its first points of the season. The Potters are nine points behind league leaders Charlton Athletic ahead of their next fixture, a home match against the same side on September 5th. Fans can track the team's progress on our standings page.
Stoke's urgent need for a positive result is underscored by their difficult start. With three consecutive losses forming an LLL pattern in recent form, the pressure is building. The potential outgoing of Thomas and incoming of a player like Cleary highlights the club's active work on deadline day to reshape the squad. The immediate focus then shifts to preparing for the visit of the league leaders, a fixture detailed on our fixtures schedule. The club's activity in the market is aimed at bolstering a squad that currently sits at the foot of the table.
