Key reason emerges behind Stoke City transfer decision involving Sheffield United

The Potters had a wealth of options at their disposal at the time of the shot-stopper’s departure to Sheffield United, with Josef Bursik, Frank Fielding, Jack Bonham and Blondy Nna Noukeu all available as alternative options for the Northern Irishman.

With Fielding arriving in Staffordshire in November, extending his short-term contract until the end of the season in January, he will help to provide competition to the likes of Bonham and Bursik, with the latter establishing himself as number one.

Despite this competition, Davies did play 12 times in the Championship for the Potters this season, with three further appearances coming in the Carabao Cup earlier in the 2021/22 campaign.

This is why it was perhaps a surprise for some to see him depart the club, with the Daily Mail reporting that Stoke cashed in on the Welshman for a fee as little as £250,000.

He’s currently stuck behind the in-form Wes Foderingham in the pecking order at Bramall Lane, arguably becoming less valued with the Blades than he was at the Potters, but the latter’s boss has now revealed why the club decided to cash in on the goalkeeper.

The 52-year-old said: “I think we were a bit unfair on Jack when we left him out. It’s a pattern that existed.

“When I came to the club Adam Davies was the number three goalkeeper and we had two very expensive goalkeepers ahead of him. Adam came through to get the number one jersey.

“When we had injuries to Adam and subsequently to Angus Gunn, Joe came back from his loan and did very, very well.

“Again in the summer when we had Adam and Joe, we brought in Jack as our third choice goalkeeper but quickly I saw there was a lot of potential in him.

“We made the decision to let Adam go in the January window which saved us