One in and one out at Stoke, suggests speculation

Mark Holmes
Giannelli Imbula: Porto midfielder linked with Stoke City

Giannelli Imbula: Porto midfielder linked with Stoke City

Stoke City are reportedly close to agreeing a deal for Porto midfielder Giannelli Imbula but apparently face a fight to keep hold of Charlie Adam.

Mark Hughes has made it clear he would be interested in adding to his squad this month should the right opportunity arise, with Imbrula, Saido Berahino and Shane Long among the players linked with moves to the Britannia Stadium.

According to French newspaper Le 10 Sport, Stoke are now close to agreeing terms with Porto on a deal for Imbula worth in excess of €20million, though the Portuguese club’s new coach José Peseiro must first decide whether he is willing to let the 23-year-old leave this month.

Imbula only joined Porto in the summer after a successful two-year spell at Marseille, but the France Under-21 international has started only one league game for the club since August.

Adam, meanwhile, is a loan target for Wolves and Brighton, according to the Daily Express and Daily Star.

The Championship clubs were apparently interested in signing Adam on a permanent basis, but the 30-year-old’s wage demands combined with Stoke’s valuation of a player with 18 months remaining on his contract has put paid to that.

Adam hasn’t started in the Premier League since the Potters 2-0 defeat at Sunderland in November, with Ibrahim Afellay establishing himself in a deeper midfield role alongside Glenn Whelan.

Stoke have also on Thursday been linked with Lorient midfielder Didier Ndong, who is available for €10million according to L’Equipe.