Transfer news and gossip as Stoke City continue major summer overhaul

South Korea starlet Bae Jun-ho is expected to join Stoke City in a deal worth around £2 million according to overnight reports in Seoul.

The playmaker, who turned 20 on Monday, could sign off at Daejeon Hana on Friday night against Jeonbuk Hyundai – in the closing stages of the K-League season as his team chase now unlikely qualification to the Asian Champions League – or by then he could already be on his way to England to conclude a summer-long saga.

Jun-ho started to break into the Daejeon first team last season as they won promotion and he has been a key player this season, coming to wider prominence thanks to his performances with South Korea, helping reach the semi-finals of both the under-20s World Cup and under-20s Asian Cup this year.

Daejeon coach Lee Min-seong said: “Of course, from my point of view, it’s better for Jun-ho to stay. He is a really talented player and he could be a much bigger player. He is right to go to Europe. Isn’t it meaningful to see a Daejeon Hana Citizen player in Europe? I hope Jun-ho will go to Europe and grow into a player who represents Korea.”

Sports Seoul, in a comprehensive run through of the development of transfer interest in Jun-ho, claims that Stoke, multiple Premier League teams and clubs in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkey made inquiries into his availability following the under-20s World Cup in June.Sports Seoul, in a comprehensive run through of the development of transfer interest in Jun-ho, claims that Stoke, multiple Premier League teams and clubs in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkey made inquiries into his availability following the under-20s World Cup in June.