Stoke City have concluded what has been an unsatisfactory season for them in the Premier League recently, ending in a lowly 13th position on the table. The Potters have, however, kept faith in their manager Mark Hughes, who has been handed one more season in charge of the team at the bet365 Stadium.
Hughes is already eyeing a number of changes to be brought into the side in the next season, including players from European clubs as well. One such player in Diego Llorente, the Malaga centre-half on loan from Real Madrid. The Spanish has been in good form throughout the season and has played a pivotal role in the rise of his club Malaga to come out with extraordinary results like defeating Barcelona at the La Rosaleda Stadium.
The Real Madrid defender has been in sound form in the latter half of the season, after receiving a bid from Stoke City worth £9 million during the January transfer window, which was denied by his current club Malaga. Reportedly, Malaga is eyeing to make the young Galactico stay back with them on a permanent basis and might make a bid for him in the summer.
The player is reportedly also not eyeing a move back to Real Madrid, where he had to go through a number of hurdles to make it to the playing XI. In fact, the central defender has made only two appearances during his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu before being loaned out to Malaga last season. According to the Malaga side, it was a very complicated situation for the young Spaniard, and he, as per his current club, does not want to make a move back to the Bernabeu when his loan period ends at La Rosaleda.
The centre-half has impressed with his brilliant display of strength and ability to keep the possession of the ball for a significant amount of time throughout the season, especially for the second half of it, to impress his potential suitors. Even the National selectors were impressed with him and handed him his maiden call-up for the National squad.
The Potters are eyeing to make a mark from the very early stages in the next season and as a result are in dire need of someone like Llorente who can stabilise their defence from the word go. However, they might have to reportedly face stern competition from Everton in pursuit of their desired candidate in the summer, who has been priced at £13 million by Real Madrid.
