Report: Stoke City earmark Leeds and Hull stars for potential summer moves

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Stoke City have earmarked Leeds United’s Charlie Taylor and Hull City’s Andrew Robertson as potential targets for the summer.

Tottenham’s Kyle Walker in action with Hull City s Andrew Robertson

A report in the Daily Mail has suggested that Stoke City have identified Leeds United star Charlie Taylor and Hull City defender Andrew Robertson as potential summer targets.

According to the Mail, the Potters want to give Erik Pieters some more competition at left-back, and have earmarked the pair as potential candidates to come in and challenge the Dutchman.

News of Stoke’s interest in the Whites defender may not come as a surprise to the Elland Road faithful – TEAMtalk suggested last summer that they were one of the clubs that the wantaway academy graduate had held talks with – but with a contract extension still not agreed, the interest may now be slightly more concerning from a Leeds perspective.

Meanwhile, Robertson was the subject of a £10 million bid from Premier League rivals Burnley in January (via Mail), so it may take a significantly greater bid perhaps for Mark Hughes’ men to get a deal done – though Hull getting relegated would surely mean that any eight-figure bid looks a lot more appealing to them.

Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum in action with Leeds’ Charlie Taylor

Stoke are on course to secure their fourth consecutive ninth-place finish in the top flight, so it would be hardly surprising if either player was seriously contemplating a move to the Bet365 Stadium if the chance presented itself in the summer.

Hull are obviously in danger of being relegated back to the Championship – they are three points adrift of safety – while Leeds are in the play-off places in the second tier, but clearing that final hurdle and securing promotion is still going to be a big ask for Garry Monk’s men.

And given the unpredictability of the Championship, both players would be forgiven for wondering if staying at their current clubs is the best idea if they are in that division next year, especially if a Premier League stalwart is offering the chance to move into the top flight.