Stoke City is facing competition from West Brom and Burnley in the pursuit of Will Smallbone, a midfielder who has been a free agent since leaving Southampton at the end of last season. The 26-year-old has already had a loan spell with Stoke City in his career, which was one of his best seasons. Smallbone has been without a club throughout the summer, meaning he has missed pre-season and could need some time to regain full match sharpness. As a result, his next club may have to be patient before he is ready to challenge for a place in the starting XI. Despite this, Smallbone would be an excellent free-agent signing for most Championship sides. He is a technically gifted midfielder whose versatility allows him to operate as a deep-lying playmaker, box-to-box midfielder or advanced No.10. He can contribute goals and assists from midfield while also offering a threat from set-pieces. His ability to influence games in several different roles would make him a valuable addition to a Championship squad. There will understandably be some concerns over his fitness and recent injury record, particularly given his lack of a pre-season. However, there is a reason promotion-chasing Millwall brought him in last season, with Smallbone capable of making a significant contribution to a top Championship side when he is at his best. Stoke City are desperate to finally make progress after eight years of decline since their Premier League relegation. The Potters have failed to finish in the Championship's top half during that time, making promotion ambitions increasingly urgent. A revamped midfield could help Stoke push towards the play-offs, especially with the expanded format offering more opportunities. Robins and his recruitment team have spent heavily this summer, so expectations are high and improvements are needed across the squad. Ethan Galbraith is the standout signing so far and should play a key role in midfield. Svante Ingelsson and Djibril Soumare will also compete for places, while Tomas Rigo will aim to improve after a disappointing first season. Ben Pearson adds further experience in defensive midfield, so even if Stoke sign Smallbone, there is a strong argument for strengthening elsewhere. The Potters must ensure their investment is balanced across the squad rather than overly focused on midfield. League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 17th in Championship, 55 pts, 15W-10D-21L from 46 games, recent form LLLLD. Goals this season: 51 scored, 56 conceded (-5 goal difference). Title race: 40 points behind leaders Coventry. Last result: Bristol City 2-0 Stoke City (2026-05-02). Recent form (last 5): 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL, most recent first); lost the last 5. Next fixture: vs Cardiff (away, 2026-09-08).