Stoke City full-back Éric Bocat has drawn interest from AS Monaco who are reportedly looking to bolster their defensive options. The French giants have made initial contact with the club regarding the 27-year-old's potential move.
The interest from Monaco comes after a busy transfer window for the Ligue 1 side. This summer, the club has already sold Caio Henrique to Ajax Amsterdam and Kassoum Ouattara to Besiktas. To address the squad gaps, they also signed Nazinho from their partner club Cercle Brugge. However, the search for a dedicated reinforcement at left-back remains a priority.
Why is Monaco interested in Éric Bocat?
While Monaco has Christian Mawissa available to cover the position, they are seeking further depth to provide competition. Sacha Tavolieri said: "Éric Bocat (27) features on AS Monaco’s shortlist, as the club look to add a reinforcement at left-back".
Bocat is not the only club watching the Stoke defender closely. Burnley and FC Köln are also in the race to secure the player. Despite the growing interest, no immediate deal is anticipated for Bocat's transfer as the various clubs evaluate their options and budgets.
How does this affect the Stoke City squad?
The defender has already seen action recently, having started for Monaco in their Ligue 1 opener against Le Havre AC. His teammate Nazinho also featured in that opening day fixture. For Stoke City, losing a key defender would be a significant blow as they look to improve on a difficult previous campaign.
The Potters are looking to move forward from a challenging last season. Looking at the final 2025 table, Stoke City finished 17th in the Championship with 55 points from 15W-10D-21L across 46 games. Their most recent result was a 2-0 loss to Bristol City on 2026-05-02.
Stoke City 2025/26 season statistics
| Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| League Standing | 17th in Championship |
| Points | 55 |
| Wins-Draws-Loss | 15W-10D-21L |
| Goals Scored | 51 |
| Goals Conceded | 56 |
| Goal Difference | -5 |
| Recent Form (last 5) | 0W-0D-5L |
As the transfer window intensifies, the club must decide whether to keep Bocat for the campaign or use the interest to reinvest elsewhere. With 40 points trailing behind leaders Coventry in the title race last year, every addition is vital for the upcoming season. The focus now shifts on whether a formal bid will materialize from Monaco in the coming weeks.
