2 Stoke City players who may be looking for a move away this summer and why

Stoke City are set for a big summer transfer window as they look to build a squad capable of sustaining a promotion push in 2022/23.

Patience is beginning to wane in Michael O’Neill with the Potters preparing for their fifth season since relegation from the Premier League.

There has been clear progress and potential in patches of O’Neill’s reign and the former Northern Ireland manager will remain confident in his ability to improve the squad at his disposal.

There are a lot of players on the books whose contracts will expire in the summer and therefore many will have one eye on an alternative destination for next term as we edge towards the season’s conclusion.

Here, we have taken a look at two Stoke players who may be looking for a move away this summer and why…

Steven Fletcher

Steven Fletcher’s playing time has slowly decreased as the season has gone on at the bet365 Stadium, suggesting that he has fallen down the pecking order in O’Neill’s mind.

Tyrese Campbell, Jacob Brown and Josh Maja certainly offer more mobile threats and that could see the Scotsman phased out further between now and the end of the season.

With his contract running down, it looks unlikely that his league goal tally, currently on three, will be enough to convince the hierarchy to extend his terms.

Fletcher would have plenty of suitors as a free agent with a return to Scotland potentially on the cards.

Benik Afobe

Afobe has spent the season on loan at Millwall and has shown his quality in patches back in the capital.

The 29-year-old’s contract expires in the summer as well, and given that he was deemed surplus to requirements at the beginning of the season, his goal tally of six so far is unlikely to convince Stoke to offer him a new deal.

Afobe