Stoke City readying move for 2023/24 promotion winner

Stoke City interested in signing 24-year-old goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu from FC Sion, preparing seven-figure bid.

Sion values Fayulu at €1.5-2.5million; Stoke City, Bochum interested; would reduce budget for other squad areas.

Reports of Stoke’s interest in Fayulu raise questions due to experienced goalkeepers already signed and depth in position.

That’s according to a report from Swiss outlet KMedia, who say the Potters are preparing a seven-figure bid to sign the 24-year-old.

It has been a busy start to the summer for Stoke, with centre back Ben Gibson recently becoming their second signing of the transfer window, after his release from Norwich City.

Prior to that, they had already completed the signing of one goalkeeper, with Viktor Johansson arriving from Rotherham United.

Now, however, the club are being credited with an interest in the signing of another option between the posts this summer.

Fayulu joined Sion back in 2018, and has since gone on to make 67 appearances in all competitions for the club.

This season saw the 24-year-old help his side win promotion to the Swiss top-flight, producing form that saw him earn a call-up for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s senior national team.

It also appears as though that has now started to attract plenty of interest in the goalkeeper, in the summer transfer window.

Indeed, the Potters are said to be preparing an offer for the goalkeeper, who is valued by Sion at €1.5-2.5million.

As things stand, there are still two years remaining on Fayulu’s contract, securing his future with his current club until the end of the 2025/26 season.

That ensures that Sion will indeed have some scope to negotiate any offer that is made for the 24-year-old this summer.

Along with Stoke, it is thought that Bochum, who finished 16th in Germany’s top-flight this season before avoiding relegation via a play-off, are also interested in signing Fayulu this summer.

For their part, the Potters ended the 2023/24 season 17th in the Championship table, six points clear of the relegation zone.

These reports linking Stoke with a move for Fayulu do feel rather unexpected in all honesty.

Admittedly, the 24-year-old does seem to be a promising goalkeeper, who ought to have the potential to do a job for a club.

However, the Potters have already signed one goalkeeper this summer, in the form of Johansson, who, unlike the Sion man, is already experienced and proven in the Championship.

It is also worth noting that Stoke have plenty of depth in that position as well, with the senior duo of Jack Bonham and Frank Fielding also among those contracted to the club.

As a result, there does seem to be an argument that they do not need to sign another goalkeeper this summer, be that Fayulu or someone else, as things stand.

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Indeed, with that asking price Sion appear to have set, Stoke would also be paying a significant fee to make this signing.

That in turn would then reduce the budget they have available to invest in adding to other areas of the squad, that are in greater need of reinforcement.

With all that in mind, it would seem like something of a strange move for Stoke to actually bring Fayulu to the Championship this summer.