"Messy" - Stoke City, Wouter Burger transfer prediction issued...

Although Stoke City has been informed that their handling of Wouter Burger’s unsuccessful attempt to leave the

team on Deadline Day was a mistake, they remain optimistic that he can remain a key member of the team under

Mark Robins this season.

Prior to the late announcement of the circumstances surrounding centre midfielder Burger’s possible departure,

Stoke’s transfer business over the past month had been comparatively low-key and unremarkable, and their Deadline

Day was looking as quiet as many had anticipated.

With just hours left in the transfer window, the 23-year-old, who has been a vital member of Stoke despite slumps in

performance over the past 12 months, was said to have all but agreed to a move to four-time Superliga champions FC

Midtjylland. However, the Potters’ management reportedly halted the agreement at the last minute.

Burger is now set to stay at Stoke until at least the end of the season, but may have been unsettled by the saga

happening so late on in the window, and his failed move has seen the Potters board and sporting director Jon

Walters draw criticism from supporters for how the situation panned out.

Since joining Stoke for a reported £4.3 million from Basel in August 2023, Burger has played a significant role in the

team’s midfield. Therefore, it was shocking to learn late in the transfer window that the Potters and Midtjylland had

reached an agreement and that Burger had passed his medical in England and agreed to personal terms with the

Superliga team.

The former Dutch youth international has spent the remainder of the season at the bet365 Stadium after Stoke’s

management reportedly halted talks because they couldn’t find a substitute for him in Robins’ squad so late in the

process, even though the transaction appeared to have advanced and all but finalised.

FLW’s Potters fan pundit, Sam Harrison, is surprised at how the club handled the situation so late on in the winter

window, and while he thinks the 23-year-old will most likely depart in the summer now, he is hopeful that he can

continue to impress in red and white from now until the start of May.

“Wouter Burger’s relocation being mentioned on Deadline Day was a little unexpected,” Sam told FLW.

You would think that if the rumours about him passing a physical and Stoke pulling out of the deal because they

couldn’t find a replacement are accurate, he’s probably going to leave in the summer if a transfer away becomes

available once more.

Ultimately, he is a vital member of the team, and it sounds like they just couldn’t find a replacement, so maybe he

can continue to feel like he belongs and has a role.

For the club, Deadline Day was perhaps a touch chaotic. It appeared that way from the outside looking in.

Regarding the board and Jon Walters, it’s difficult to make assumptions about Walters because on Stoke’s prior

transfer windows.

The money we have spent during our time in the Championship, including the first one, has seldom ever been

worthwhile when you consider the windows we have had.

One important participant is Burger. We have midfielders who are just recovering from injuries and might not be

fully healthy and available right immediately.

“Messy” – Stoke City, Wouter Burger transfer prediction issued following Deadline Day saga