Stoke City’s planned transfer talks and Narcis Pelach’s intention to assess loanees Narcis Pelach is still getting a full idea of what he is working with having arrived at Stoke City – and the January transfer window is in the distance.
Narcis Pelach will continue to assess closely the Stoke City squad which he has only recently taken over – including those not currently at the club – as he gears towards potential additions in the January transfer window. Pelach replaced Steven Schumacher a matter of weeks after the closure of the summer window in which the Potters were active with both arrivals and departures.
Despite the squad requiring a little time to gel, the club chose to relieve Schumacher of his duties and Pelach was sourced as his successor. It’s early days, and the young Spaniard has obtained five points from as many games at the beginning of his reign as he seeks to improve the existing group while considering also what lies ahead by way of recruitment.
Two players not currently in Stoke colours, but contracted to the club, are Lewis Baker and Ryan Mmaee; Baker joined Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers towards the end of the window, while Mmaee left following the deadline when moving abroad to Rapid Vienna, who have an option to buy the player.
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Experienced Baker left for what is the final year of his contract, as things stand, in the Potteries, but it remains to be seen what plans Pelach has for either player, if any. Nathan Lowe has been in superb form with Walsall, scoring eight so far in 10 starts and two cameos in league and cup.
The boss is yet to speak to those out on loan having been so busy with first-team affairs since his arrival and settling into his new surroundings, although considering the futures of those who were left uncertain in the summer is on his to do list.
“I didn’t speak to anyone,” Pelach said. “The decisions made by the club were made with the previous regime, so I couldn’t have affected it because I came later. We are looking forward to January, of course I will try to affect it as much as possible. I will work with Jon [Walters] and his people towards the same direction.
“I didn’t have the chance to talk with any players who are on loan yet, I have been really busy. I will have to try and put my mind around this when the moment comes and think about what the team needs. Of course I have my own ideas already, but I need to get to know the players I have a little bit more, personally and from the football point of view.
“We will see where we are in five or six weeks and try to make the best decisions, because I really think a lot of success is on that – the recruitment side – and then you are able to do what you want to on the pitch because you have the right players. As I say, I will try be as clever as I can and lend my ideas for what I have.”
