Player has had Stoke offer on table ‘for weeks’, Hughes looking to build value deal

 

Stoke City’s regular scouting of Barcelona B, and the Spanish club’s La Masia system, has seen them linked to a number of players in recent years.

The Catalan media are often happy to show their annoyance at English clubs for poaching players from Barcelona’s youth system, but Stoke largely get away with it. Mark Hughes being the club’s manager obviously helps, but often Stoke are interested in players who Barcelona aren’t counting on enough.

The latest is Sergi Palencia, with Luis Enrique not even considering the B team player during the recent fullback crisis. Palencia is primarily a right back but can play on the left too, his Barcelona contract runs until June 2018.

The right footer has had an offer from Stoke City on his table ‘for weeks’ report Catalan newspaper Sport, and he’s currently considering his future.

Stoke don’t want to pay the 20 year old’s €12m buyout clause, with Sport saying Stoke’s initial hope is a deal which could be worth up to €5m.

Sport don’t rule Stoke’s chances out, even at the lower price.