Stoke City latest: Josh Laurent transfer update, Tom Cannon interest & Sol Sidibe snubs Chelsea and AC Milan | OneFootball

FLW rounds up the latest news and rumours surrounding the Potters

Stoke City face a big summer of clear-outs and wise transfer decisions as they look to finally push on in the Championship.

Steven Schumacher is undergoing his first summer as Potters boss, and has already decided to dip his toe into the transfer market, with standout goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, experienced centre-back Ben Gibson and exciting wing-back Eric Bocat arriving from Rotherham United, Norwich City and Sint-Truiden respectively.

Numerous first-team players such as Tyrese Campbell and Wesley have departed upon the expiry of their contracts, while centre-backs Matthew Baker and David Okagbue have rejoined Newport County and Walsall on respective permanent deals and young goalkeeper Tommy Simkin has also joined the Saddlers on a season-long loan.

There have been changes off the pitch too, with Lee Darnbrough appointed as the club's new head of recruitment after departing an equivalent role at Hull City following seven years with the Tigers.

Schumacher should be happy with the current blend of youth and experience in his squad, but there will still be plenty of incomings and outgoings on their radar this summer, and with that in mind, Football League World outlines the latest transfer news coming out of the Potteries.

Fresh Josh Laurent transfer revelation emerges

The Athletic has revealed that Potters club captain Josh Laurent is 'likely to leave' if the club’s valuation is met this summer, amid interest from across Europe.

Laurent is reportedly being targeted by Turkish side Gaziantep, according to Turkish outlet Telgraf, with the Süper Lig outfit awaiting a response to an apparent offer that has been submitted to Stoke.

News site Protathlima also linked Cypriot side Pafos FC with a move in June for the 29-year-old, who has just one year left on his current contract at the bet365 Stadium.

The Athletic's Adam Leventhal's latest update states that Laurent is also attracting interest from elsewhere in the Championship, so it seems likely that he could leave the club in the coming months if Stoke receive a bid that they feel is appropriate.

Stoke City hold an interest in Leicester City striker Tom Cannon

Stoke are among a host of second tier clubs that want to bring in Leicester City striker Tom Cannon on loan this summer, according to The Telegraph.

The Potters have reportedly revived their interest in the 21-year-old from last summer, before he joined the Foxes from Everton, but new manager Steve Cooper is set to give him a chance to impress in pre-season before any decision is made on his immediate future.

Schumacher is clearly targeting a new front-man before the new season kicks off, with Stoke being the sixth-lowest Championship scorers last season as the five different strikers they fielded netted a lowly eight combined league goals.

Despite joining for around £7.5 million last September from Everton after an impressive loan spell at Preston North End, the Republic of Ireland international was limited to just 13 league appearances for Leicester as they won the Championship, so will likely find opportunities at a further premium in the top-flight.

If Stoke could land him ahead of next season, he would presumably slot straight into their starting 11 as the focal point of a promising attacking force alongside Million Manhoef and Bae Jun-ho.

Sol Sidibe signs professional terms amid AC Milan, Chelsea and Rangers interest

Highly-rated youngster Sol Sidibe has signed his first professional contract at Stoke, amid recent interest from clubs across Europe.

Sidibe has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at his boyhood club, after he had initially agreed professional terms last summer that would allow him to sign an official deal after his 17th birthday in February.

A recent report from the Daily Mail stated that Sidibe was being monitored by Chelsea, AC Milan and Rangers ahead of the summer window, with just one year left on his scholarship deal, but he has now committed to Stoke until 2027, which would take him to 12 years at the club.

Sidibe, who is the son of Potters cult hero Mamady, became the first player born in 2007 to feature in either of the top two divisions when Alex Neil gave him his debut on last season's opening day against Rotherham United, and went on to make seven more appearances last campaign under both Neil and Schumacher as he enjoyed a breakthrough year in the first-team.

The 17-year-old will look to kick on in 2024/25 under Schumacher, and is likely set to be given the chance to stake a claim for not only a place in the matchday squad, but in the 40-year-old's starting eleven each week.