It has been another inconsistent season for Stoke City in the Premier League as they have apparently mustered their way towards the upper half of the league table but haven’t been able to kick on. Under the tutelage of Mark Hughes, the Potters have been playing a pretty eye-catching brand of football and are currently placed 9th in the league table with 36 points after 29 outings and have really solidified their footing in the top tier of English football.
However, despite their age-old tradition of being absolutely compact, resilient and rigid backline, Stoke City have been leaky this time around and have already conceded 42 goals. Without any shadow of a doubt, they have been sporadic and it is high time for them to surge ahead. Their defensive setup needs to be placed under the microscope and some signings in the January transfer window shall hold significant importance.
Sky Bet Championship has been a breeding ground for many top quality players and the Potters can certainly sniff for gold in the second division. One of the players who has reportedly intrigued Mark Hughes is Leeds United’s scintillating left-back, Charlie Taylor. The 23-year-old is enjoying a fruitful season with the Whites, who are undoubtedly a side hopeful for a promotion.
Taylor is one of the most talented youngsters to have surfaced on the stage owing to his calibre which he has showcased week in and week out. The Englishman is a thoroughly versatile commodity who could ply his trade anywhere on the left. An intelligent player who has raw pace in his legs, he is someone who loves to outrun defenders and put in deadly crosses from the left to literally destroy the opponents.
A player who has emerged from the youth ranks of Leeds United, he is good in the air, intercepts very well, has the last laugh more often than not in one-vs-one situations and creates plenty of chances for his teammates. Moreover, he hardly refrains from making tackles in the tight situations, times his run in an impeccable manner and his positional sense is simply spectacular.
Under the regime of Garry Monk, he has cemented himself as a vital cog in his tactical nous and it would be really hard to lure him to bet365 Stadium. Nonetheless, Stoke City should leave no stone unturned to make him put pen to paper in the summer and that would really help in providing strong competition to Erik Pieters for the left-back slot.
