Stoke City are being linked with a January transfer move for Hull City midfielder Kieran Dowell. The opinion piece from The72 suggests the Potters should offer the 28-year-old an escape route after his proposed switch to Sheffield United collapsed earlier this week.
Why is Kieran Dowell available?
Kieran Dowell faces a frustrating spell out of the picture at Hull City. The Tigers, who won promotion from the Championship last season, reportedly offered the player to Sheffield United. That move fell through, leaving Dowell's future uncertain unless he secures a transfer to a club in Turkey, Portugal, or Saudi Arabia. The Merseyside-born attacking midfielder scored against Stoke City last month in the Carabao Cup, a reminder of his quality. He joined Hull last winter after a three-year spell at Rangers and has played just under 250 career games.
Where would he fit at Stoke City?
The Potters had a busy summer recruitment drive but sold key man Sorba Thomas to Hull City on deadline day. While some of that money was spent on Justin Devenny from Crystal Palace, Stoke did not bring in a direct replacement for Thomas. This has left the Staffordshire club lacking creativity in forward areas. Dowell, a versatile attacking midfielder who likes to create chances and get assists, would provide competition and depth. He would also be a useful presence in the dressing room and someone younger players can learn from, having been an England youth international.
What is Stoke City's current situation?
Steven Schumacher's side sit 22nd in the Championship with three points from four games, having scored four goals and conceded nine. They are seven points behind leaders Swansea City. The squad is also dealing with several absences, with Aaron Cresswell, Ato Ampah, Ben Gibson, Junior Tchamadeu, Lamine Cissé, and Svante Ingelsson all currently sidelined. You can check the latest availability on the club's injuries page. This context makes adding proven Championship quality like Dowell's an attractive prospect for the winter window.
What happens next for Stoke?
The immediate focus is on the next Championship fixture, an away trip to face Cardiff City on September 8th. Cardiff are 19th in the table. Before that, Stoke secured a 1-0 win over Norwich City last time out, with Ethan Galbraith scoring the winner. The full fixtures schedule shows a busy period ahead. The Verdict from The72 is that "Kieran Dowell would be worth a punt by Stoke City." Whether the club's recruitment team agrees will become clearer as the January window approaches. The Potters' league standings position shows the need for reinforcements.
