Stoke City ‘in talks’ to sign former Aston Villa and Newcastle United defender
Ciaran Clark, a former Newcastle United and Aston Villa defender, has been linked with a move to Stoke City.
The 33-year-old is a free agent and can sign outside of the transfer window, continuing a busy summer for manager Alex Neil and the recruiting team, who have rebuilt the squad after finishing 16th in the Championship last season. Clark was released by Newcastle United in the summer after six years with the club and 129 appearances.
Centre half looks like the area in the new look squad where Stoke would be most vulnerable to injury or suspension, although new midfielder Wouter Burger could drop into a more defensive role if required. Although the transfer window closed on Friday, clubs can still sign players who were free agents before the end of the window.
Stoke were involved in 37 transfer deals in and out during the summer window, including 18 signings. Three came in on deadline day: Lynden Gooch, Sead Hakšabanović and Junior Tchamadeu.
Clark came through the youth system at Aston Villa to play 159 first team games for them before a £5m move to Newcastle in 2016. He spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, making ten league appearances as they won automatic promotion from the Championship.
Stoke don’t have a game this weekend because of the international break but return to action on Saturday September 16 when they are at Norwich. They will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Preston, a setback that ended their run of four successive home victories in league and cup this season.
The Preston defeat left Stoke in 16 th with six points from their opening five games. They are also through to the third round of the Carabao Cup, and a tie at Bournemouth, after home wins over West Brom and Rotherham took Neil’s side through the opening rounds.
