Stoke City should move on from Reading FC deal amid Sheffield United, Norwich City interest

Since Robins was only formally appointed manager on New Year’s Day, there haven’t been many connections between Stoke and new players in the early days of the transfer window. However, as the former Coventry City manager evaluates the team he inherited, things are anticipated to pick up speed in the upcoming weeks. With just four points separating them from relegation, the Potters are now in 19th position in the second division. It is obvious that they must strengthen their team this month in order to get out of the bottom three before May, and their transfer activity is definitely about to get underway.

According to a recent report from CaughtOffside, Stoke is interested in recruiting Charlie Savage, a Reading midfielder and Robbie’s son. Sheffield United and Norwich City, two other second-tier teams, are also keeping an eye on him in anticipation of a potential transfer during the current transfer window. Savage, 21, has been a standout for the Royals in the third division this season. However, Stoke does not currently need a player with his profile and experience in their squad, and there are many reasons why they should pass on signing him this month while more qualified Championship teams are also interested in him.

Charlie Savage is not a good fit for either Mark Robins or Stoke.

With inconsistent players available, the wrong kinds of players being used in different positions, and a number of players losing form at specific points during the campaign thus far, Stoke’s midfield has been the root of many of their on-field problems this season. Like the rest of their team, the Potters’ midfield is extremely young. Wouter Burger, 23, and Andrew Moran, 21, have been the team’s two most consistent appearance-makers in the middle of the park thus far, while 17-year-old Sol Sidibe has also been given plenty of opportunities to establish himself.

With only one player in Robins’ first starting eleven against Plymouth Argyle having been at the bet365 Stadium for more than 18 months, the team lacks experience playing together, and no midfielder older than 28 has played for the team since Josh Laurent and Lewis Baker made an appearance in late August prior to their respective summer moves away. Since joining Reading on a four-year contract in 2023, Savage has been a box-to-box midfielder. Although he has shown promise in League One, Stoke does not particularly need new players with that particular profile, especially since Robins’ preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, which features a number 10 and two traditional defensive midfielders rather than multiple number eights like Savage.

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