Stoke City is poised to finalize the signings of Ethan Galbraith and Luke Graham, marking a significant step in their midfield overhaul strategy.

Galbraith's Arrival Signals Intent

The club has made a bold move to acquire Swansea midfielder Ethan Galbraith, who has garnered attention for his performances during a season with Swansea City. At 25 years old, Galbraith's transfer is viewed as a strong statement of intent by Stoke City. This acquisition follows the signing of Djibril Soumare and an imminent deal for Svante Ingelsson, indicating a focused effort to revamp the midfield.

With the EFL's profit and sustainability regulations concluding, Swansea aimed to finalize the transfer before the deadline. While the exact fee remains undisclosed, it is believed that Stoke may need to meet certain incentives and bonuses to approach a reported total of £10 million.

Graham's Potential Addition

In addition to Galbraith, Stoke City is also in contention to sign Dundee centre-back Luke Graham, who is valued at approximately £2 million. The 22-year-old defender, standing at 6ft 4in, has made a name for himself in the Scottish Premiership and is on the fringes of the Scotland national squad. He is currently returning from a pre-season training camp in Hungary to finalize his next career move.

Stoke City has already strengthened their squad by bringing in Josh Griffiths as goalkeeping cover. Although the club does not need to sell players to maintain financial stability, there are expected departures as manager Mark Robins and Jon Walters look to manage the squad size effectively. Bae Junho, who has attracted interest from European clubs, is likely to seek a new opportunity following South Korea's exit from the World Cup.

With the recent release of Lewis Baker and Steven Nzonzi, Stoke City may still pursue additional midfield options, which could lead to exits for players like Ben Pearson as they integrate new signings into the squad.