Stoke City transfer latest: Eric Bocat deal, Timothy Fayulu linked, Northallerton Town star eyed

FLW rounds up all the latest transfer news from the bet365 Stadium

Stoke City face a big summer of clear-outs and wise transfer decisions as they look to finally push on in the Championship.

Steven Schumacher is heading into his first summer as Potters boss and has already decided to dip his toe into the transfer market, with standout goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and experienced centre-back Ben Gibson arriving from Rotherham United and Norwich City respectively.

The Potters released their full retained list on May 21, with Tyrese Campbell, Ciaran Clark, Wesley, Tom Edwards, Tom Sparrow and D’Margio Wright-Phillips all departing upon the expiry of their contracts.

There have been changes off the pitch too, with Lee Darnbrough appointed as the club’s new head of recruitment after departing an equivalent role at Hull City following seven years with the Tigers.

Schumacher should be happy with the blend of youth and experience in his squad, but there will still be plenty of incomings and outgoings on their radar this summer, and with that in mind, Football League World outlines the latest transfer news coming out of the Potteries.

Eric Junior Bocat is set to join Stoke

The Potters are reportedly closing in on a move for Sint-Truiden defender Eric Junior Bocat, according to TeamTalk and StokeOnTrentLive.

The Frenchman was with Lille and Mouscron before he joined STVV in 2022, and was previously a reported target for Leicester City this summer, but now looks set to seal a move to Stoke.

TeamTalk have stated that the 24-year-old is in talks to join the Potters and has been at the club’s training ground this week to finalise a move.

Bocat is a left-wing-back by trade, but would likely be deployed as a left-back in Schumacher’s system to provide competition for 33-year-old Enda Stevens, who recently signed a one-year contract extension following an injury-hit 2023/24 season.