Stoke City are currently in negotiations with FC Augsburg over their Ghanaian defender Daniel Opare. Various sources in the English press are claiming that the Potters are in talks with the Bundesliga club over a potential deal for the former Real Madrid defender. It is believed that Stoke City manager Mark Hughes wants to bolster his defensive options and is planning a move for Opare in a deal worth £3m when the transfer window opens in January. The Ghana international, who signed with FC Augsburg in the summer of 2015, is out of contract at the end of the current season.
It is understood that Swansea City has also joined in on the hunt to secure his services although Stoke City are currently leading the chase for the defender who can play in both full-back positions and is equally strong in either side of the defence. He is highly versatile which is one of the main reasons why a whole host of clubs are chasing after his signature.
The Potters earned a crucial victory in their last Premier League outing versus West Bromwich Albion and Mark Hughes is now set to be backed financially by owner Peter Coates during the January transfer window with the manager also looking to recruit a forward as well as another midfielder. Glenn Johnson might be allowed to leave next month which will open up space in Hughes’ squad with a potential move for Opare looming on the horizon.
Augsburg has been unsuccessful in their efforts to retain the player after talks about a new contract broke down recently. The Bundesliga club was not able to reach an agreement over terms with the Ghana international. This situation has left them powerless with the possibilities of either losing Opare for free over the summer or selling him on a cut-price deal during the upcoming transfer window.
The African defender has already represented prestigious clubs such as Real Madrid and FC Porto earlier on in his career before coming to Bundesliga football. The 27-year-old fullback has played in 14 Bundesliga matches for Augsburg in this campaign and has kept four clean sheets. He will definitely improve Mark Hughes’ defensive options at the club and his versatility might be a huge aid if the club finds themselves in a relegation dogfight in the second half of the season.
It remains to be seen whether the Potters are successful in their attempts to seal a deal for the Ghanaian full-back.
