Stoke City are interested in Sint-Truiden man Eric Boat, a report from Stoke on Trent Live has said.
Stoke City will be hoping to kick on in the 2024/25 campaign after a thoroughly disappointing time around last season.
Steven Schumacher was ultimately able to lead the Potters to safety with a late upturn in form. However, with the level of investment at the Bet365 Stadium, it marked another poor season for the club as they continue to struggle in the Championship.
With some more fresh faces and a fruitful pre-season, it will be hoped they can finally start to loom a bit higher up the second-tier table. Now, a new transfer link has emerged.
As per a report from Stoke on Trent Live, Stoke City are interested in Eric Bocat, who is currently on the books with Jupiler Pro League side Sint-Truiden in Belgium.
The 24-year-old, whose deal expires in 2025, operates as a wing-back or full-back. From there, he managed two goals and four assists in 38 outings last season.
An area to bolster?
With Enda Stevens staying put, the left-hand side isn’t necessarily an area in dire need of bolstering this summer. He can still be a solid option there, though injuries have limited his involvement at times.
As such, a move for another player to operate at left-back or left wing-back could be ideal. Bocat will offer a younger, more long-term option to Stoke City, bringing pace and attacking intent with him too.
His ability to play just about anywhere up the left will give Schumacher tactical flexibility and with a year remaining on his contract, Sint-Truiden may well be tempted to cash in on Bocat while they can.
It remains to be seen whether the Potters firm up their interest with a concrete move though as they consider him as a potential option.
Vast improvement needed
The struggles Stoke City have encountered over recent years have been well-documented. It had been hoped a vast rebuild last summer would stand them in good stead to make some long-awaited progress.
However, things reached a new low, and it looked pretty bleak at the club for a good while.
Having never finished in the top-half since dropping from the Premier League, Schumacher will be determined to be the man to end this downward spiral. Signings like Bocat will aid his bid to do so as he bids to make an impact in his first summer window at the club.
The window officially opened on Friday and the Potters have already made a breakthrough. Viktor Johansson has joined from Rotherham United and the free transfer signing of Ben Gibson followed.