1 week Ago By [email protected] (Joseph Chapman)
Narcis Pelach is already looking ahead to the possibilities that the January transfer window has in store for Stoke City as he gets up to speed with the existing tools at his disposal. Pelach took over the reins from Steven Schumacher last month; Schumacher had worked with sporting director Jon Walters in the summer to reshape the squad he himself had inherited from Alex Neil. While Stoke's squad underwent substantial surgery in the summer; having trimmed the fringes and moved out the likes of Josh Laurent, Wesley, Ciaran Clark, Tyrese Campbell and Lewis Baker, they freshened up the group and worked hard to identify talent both at home and on the continent, while also reducing the average age of the squad.
Pelach has inherited a young side, with the four Premier League loanees - Tom Cannon, Lewis Koumas, Ashley Phillips and Andrew Moran - all 21 or younger. The injury blow to the more experienced attacking recruit Sam Gallagher is a blow, by Pelach's own admission, and having used the international break to assess closely what is in his hands, he'll monitor exactly what the Potters must do ahead of the first chance he has to make additions. "We'll try to improve the squad slowly and as much as we can.
I came here and the transfer market was already closed," Pelach said. "I couldn't affect it, the squad is what it is. Step by step, with time, we will have the chance to impact the squad more, but I am happy with what I have - the attitude, the body language and the effort that they give.
"[The January transfer window] is one of my responsibilities. I will work towards that because it's coming. We will see how our squad is and if there is the option to improve certain positions then we will do it.
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