Stoke City's wild £12m summer transfer window predicted with Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday deals

Stoke City have made a positive start to the new season after winning both of their first two competitive fixtures.

The new Championship campaign began with a hard earned 1-0 home win against Coventry City after Lewis Baker’s second-half goal helped Stephen Schumacher’s side to a battling three points at the Bet365 Stadium. That win was followed by another as Freddie Anderson and Emre Tezgel gave a much-changed Potters side a 2-0 win at League Two club Carlisle United on Tuesday night.

All eyes are now on Saturday’s first away day of the Championship season as Schumacher and his players travel to Vicarage Road to take on a Watford side that have also won both of their opening competitive fixtures. Several of Schumacher’s summer signings are likely to appear against the Hornets on Saturday - but what other business could the Potters conduct of the final fortnight of the transfer window? We fired up Football Manager 2024, updated the squad to its present form and assessed how the world’s most popular managerial simulation believes the remainder of the window will play out for Stoke.

Goalkeepers

There were no additional deals concluded in the goalkeeping department after the real-life Potters completed a move for Rotherham United stopper Viktor Johansson.

Schumacher’s goalkeeping options: Johansson, Bonham, Fielding.

Defenders

Firstly, the solitary departure saw Lyndon Gooch return to the United States as he joined MLS club Orlando City in a £1.5m move. However, there were two incoming deals at the back as Bambo Diaby joined from Sheffield Wednesday in a £350k deal and he was joined by Sheffield United star Jack Robinson after the two clubs agreed a £1.2m move on the final day of the transfer window.

Schumacher’s defensive options: Wilmots, Gibson, Rose, Lawal, Bocat, Gooch, Stevens, Tchamadeu, Diaby, Robinson.

Midfielders

There was just a solitary midfield deal concluded by Schumacher but it was an eye-catching one as Fulham star Tom Cairney arrived after Stoke agreed a £2m deal with the Premier League club.

Schumacher’s midfield options: Berger, Pearson, Baker, Laurent, Thompson, Bae, Johnson, Cairney.

Forwards

There were two departures at the top end of the pitch as Schumacher allowed Niall Ennis and Ryan Mmaee to leave the club in the final week of the transfer wdinow. Ennis moved to Spanish club Sabadell in a permanent move and Mmaee also headed to Spain after agreeing a season-long loan deal with Alaves. In terms of new arrivals, there were two incoming deals agreed as Joe Gelhardt joined on loan from Championship rivals Leeds United and winger Marcus Harness joined in a £350k move from Ipswich Town.

Schumacher’s forward options: Koumas, Manhoef, Jojic, Gallagher, Harness, Gelhardt.

Ins

Lawal (1.6m from Celtic), Gallagher (£1m from Blackburn Rovers), Bocat (£750k from Saint-Truiden), Johansson (£500k from Rotherham United), Gibson (free from Norwich City), Koumas (loan from Liverpool), Robinson (£1.2m from Sheffield United), Harness (£350k from Ipswich Town), Diaby (£350k from Sheffield Wednesday), Cairney (£2m from Fulham), Gelhardt (loan from Leeds United)

Outs

Campbell (free to Sheffield United), Leris (£2.25m to Pisa), Wesley (free to Karagumruk), Edwards (free to Salford City), Wright-Phillips (free to Beerschot), Noukeu (free to Sunderland), Clark (released), Gooch (£1.5m to Orlando City), Ennis (£100k to Sabadell), Mmaee (loan to Alaves)