Stoke City ace Harry Souttar has told the Socceroos podcast that he dreams of playing Premier League football amid interest from Wolves and West Ham United.
A season that began with such optimism rather fizzled out in the Potteries.
In the end, Stoke never really looked like play-off contenders and, if Michael O’Neill wants to hang onto two of the Championship’s most talented young defenders, another year of third-tier football will make things that little bit more difficult.
Nathan Collins is already a man in demand with his centre-back partner Harry Souttar also attracting interest from the division above.
The Express reported in April that West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen on the 6ft 6ins, Scotland-born Australia international.
Souttar is also a target for a Crystal Palace side who have made it their mission to lure some of the Championship’s most exciting prospects to Selhurst Park.
Speaking just weeks before the window swings open, the former Dundee United youngster admits that playing Premier League football is something of a personal ambition.
“I think every player wants to play at the highest level they can, especially the Premier League – it’s the most-watched league in the world,” Souttar said.
“I think if you ask any player they’ll say they want to play in the Premier League, but there’s only certain people who get to do it, so it comes down to your technical ability and who’s going to put in the work.
“I certainly would love to be playing there in the future I want to play there with Stoke. I want to help the club get promoted back to where it should be.
“I think all the players at Stoke feel the same, we’re all walking in the one direction to try and get Stoke back in the Premier League.
“As a squad we know what it’ll take to get up there and that’s something that hopefully we can really push for next season.”
Souttar doesn’t exactly sound like a man pushing for an exit, with the 22-year-old hinting at another season with Stoke.
The Potters will know deep down, however, that the longer they stay in the Championship, the harder it will be to keep hold of players like Souttar.
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