Stoke City Close to Deal for Galatasaray Defender That Could Include £9.5m Buy Option
Stoke City are closing in on a loan deal for Galatasaray centre-back Emin Bayram, according to the Stoke Sentinel.
The 20-year-old is a highly-rated prospect who has captained Galatasaray at youth level and made his senior debut in 2020.
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He has also been on loan at Boluspor in the Turkish second division.
Stoke are reportedly keen to sign Bayram on a season-long loan with an option to buy for £5.5m, which could rise to more if the Potters win promotion to the Premier League.
Bayram is said to be keen on the move as he wants to gain more experience of senior football.
He has previously said that he is a fan of the English and Spanish leagues, and that he watches the matches of the big defenders in those leagues.
Bayram is a versatile defender who can play at centre-back or right-back. He is strong in the air and good with his feet. He is also a good passer of the ball.
If the move goes through, it would be a major coup for Stoke. Bayram is a talented young player with a lot of potential.
He could be a key part of the Potters’ squad for the coming season in their push to get back to the Premier League.
READ MORE: top player officially signs one-year contract with Stoke City
Stoke City has announced the signing of seasoned defender Enda Stevens.
The Republic of Ireland international has signed a one-year contract and is moving to Stoke following six seasons with Sheffield United.
During his tenure with the Blades, Stevens was instrumental in securing two Championship promotions and was a constant figure when Sheffield United achieved a 9th place finish in the Premier League during the 2019/20 season. To date, Stevens has played in over 450 games during his career.
The signing comes ahead of Stoke City’s pre-season match at Notts County this Saturday. Stevens will then travel with his new teammates to Spain for the Club’s training camp on the Costa Blanca.
Ricky Martin, Stoke City’s Technical Director, expressed his satisfaction with the new signing, stating, “Enda is a really strong addition to the squad, he brings the mentality of a serial winner – especially within the Championship – and we see his character and experiences as beneficial to the culture within the dressing room.”
The Technical Director also highlighted Stevens’ experience at the Championship level, the Premier League, and at the international level, calling it the pedigree that the squad needs.
“To be able to recruit a player of Enda’s calibre is a good start to our recruitment this summer and we look forward to seeing the positive influence he has on his teammates, both those already within our squad and those that follow him into the Club in the coming weeks,” Martin added.
Enda Stevens expressed his enthusiasm for joining Stoke City, citing his confidence in manager Alex Neil and the team’s potential for the upcoming season.
“I am delighted to be here and really excited to work with the gaffer and the boys this week before heading out to Spain for the training camp,” Stevens said.
“It feels like the club is at the start of an ambitious project and I see another chance to be successful.”
“Stoke City is a club of strong stature and, if we can play in a similar way to the Alex Neil teams I’ve come up against in the past, I have a belief that we can be really competitive in the Championship this season.”
