Stoke City were given a huge boost recently after long-term transfer target Jakub Jankto revealed that he is up for a move this summer. The Potters have been keeping a close eye on his development recently and had scouts watching over him in a recent game. And with the player now opening up that he wants to move to a bigger club, Stoke City are one of the few Premier League outfits that are interested in spending on him this summer.
At 21, he is one of the most exciting youngsters in his position in Europe but is he the right fit for Stoke City? For all the fans who are not familiar, here is a peek into his scout report.
Born and brought up in Prague, Czech Republic, the 21-year old has represented his country at every junior level and has already made a senior appearance, finding the back of the net in that game. He has been with Italian outfit Udinese since he was a teenager back in 2014 and is currently the first choice midfielder at the club. He has 22 appearances in all competitions for the Italian outfit and is a player who is growing in stature with every game.
A central midfielder by trait, Jankto is an excellent passer of the ball and is someone who is not afraid of keeping possession of the ball. He has skills and tricks in his armor that make him unpredictable but he loves to keep his game simple and relies on short passes to get him out of dangerous situations.
With a matured head on his shoulders, he is adept at unleashing his attackers with inch-perfect through balls which make him an exciting player. He is also an indirect threat in set-pieces and is a player who will improve not only the depth but also the quality of the squad at Stoke.
Mark Hughes has used the likes of Joe Allen, Glen Whelan, Charlie Adam and Geoff Cameroon in the midfield two in his 4-4-2 system. The Welsh international Allen is expected to keep his place in the side next season and while the manager would want Charlie Adam to be the first choice alongside Allen, Hughes might be tempted to move into the transfer market to add an exciting name to this list. And that name can well be Jankto this summer.
Jankto is not a player who loves to sit back and defend and he will not act as a cover for the back-4, effectively at least. He has still to improve on his defensive and aerial contributions but at just 21, he will only get better. Also wanted by the likes of Arsenal, Jankto is surely a star for the future and Mark Hughes should make sure he does not allow teams around him to snatch him up this summer.
