Stoke City’s late transfer activity could yet have significant consequences for Million Manhoef, despite the English transfer window now being shut. On deadline day, the Potters completed a double signing in wide attacking areas, bringing in Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on loan from Crystal Palace until the end of the season, while also securing Chelsea youngster Ato Ampah on a permanent deal reportedly worth around £3 million. These additions may have a direct impact on Manhoef’s future at the club.
Like many teams across the EFL, Stoke have spent January reshaping their squad, with head coach Mark Robins hoping the new arrivals will help push the club back into contention for promotion. Earlier in the campaign, Stoke spent a long period inside the play-off positions and even occupied one of the automatic promotion spots at times. However, a downturn in results over recent weeks has seen them slide down the table, prompting the club to strengthen before the window closed.
Rak-Sakyi and Ampah are both natural wide players, meaning their arrivals increase competition in areas already occupied by Sorba Thomas, Lamine Cissé, and Manhoef. The Dutch winger’s situation has drawn particular attention, especially after he was left out of Stoke’s matchday squad for the 2–0 home defeat to Southampton. The club described his absence as a precaution, but this has only fuelled speculation that a potential move away could be looming.
Although the transfer window is now closed in England, several leagues across Europe remain open for business. While a move to another English club is no longer possible, Manhoef could still secure a transfer abroad. Transfer windows in the Netherlands and Portugal remain open until Tuesday, February 3rd, while leagues in Greece, Austria, and Turkey do not shut until Friday, February 6th. In addition, Major League Soccer clubs have until March to complete deals.
As a result, Stoke may still face interest from overseas clubs looking to make a late move for the 24-year-old winger. Manhoef has been a regular presence this season, with the Southampton match marking the first league fixture he failed to feature in. Prior to that, he had made 29 league appearances from the right wing, contributing five goals and two assists.
However, with Rak-Sakyi also favouring the right flank, and Ampah providing further depth, Manhoef’s opportunities for regular game time could become limited unless he remains firmly in Robins’ plans. He had already slipped to the bench in recent weeks following strong performances from Cissé, who has impressed on the right but was later used centrally due to a lack of fit strikers.
Injuries to key forwards such as Divin Mubama, Sam Gallagher, and Robert Bozeník left Stoke without a recognised centre-forward for a period, which disrupted their attacking rhythm and forced Robins into tactical adjustments. The club will be hoping that the new signings, alongside Dutch striker Milan Smit, can reinvigorate Stoke’s attacking play during the run-in.
Manhoef had previously been linked with moves to Celtic and Leeds United, but any potential switch to either club is now off the table for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, interest from clubs in leagues where the window remains open could still materialise, making an overseas exit a genuine possibility.
Regardless of Manhoef’s immediate future, Robins now has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal. While increased competition may be frustrating for individual players, it ultimately strengthens Stoke’s squad depth. With renewed attacking firepower and a solid defensive base already in place, Robins will remain confident that his side can recover their form and mount a serious push for a top-six finish before the end of the season.
