Stoke City Could Offload £1.5m Signing and Highest Earner as Summer Rebuild Looms
For a significant stretch of the current Championship campaign, it appeared that Stoke City might finally be on course to break a frustrating trend. After seven consecutive seasons of finishing in the bottom half of the table since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018, optimism began to build around the bet365 Stadium that the Potters could finally secure a respectable top-half finish.
Under the leadership of former Mark Robins, who previously impressed at Coventry City, Stoke began the season in eye-catching fashion. In the early weeks of the campaign, they found themselves competing near the summit of the Championship standings alongside promotion hopefuls such as Middlesbrough and Robins’ former side Coventry.
That promising start, however, has gradually faded. Stoke have struggled to maintain the same level of consistency and have slipped down the table as the season has progressed. A late push for a play-off spot now looks increasingly unlikely, and even a top-half finish—once considered highly achievable—is far from guaranteed.
Despite this downturn in form, there are still clear signs that the club is heading in a more positive direction compared to recent years. Stoke narrowly avoided relegation last season, surviving by just a single point on the final day. In contrast, the current campaign has shown tangible improvement both on and off the pitch.
One of the most notable positives has been their defensive stability, with Stoke boasting one of the best defensive records in the division. Off the field, the club’s recruitment strategy also appears to be evolving, with an emphasis on building a squad capable of competing more effectively in the coming years.
Nevertheless, the upcoming summer transfer window is expected to be crucial for the Potters. If they are to transform themselves into genuine contenders for promotion back to the Premier League, significant changes to the squad will likely be required. Both new arrivals and several departures could be necessary as the club reshapes its roster.
With that in mind, attention has turned to a number of players whose futures at the club could be uncertain. Two individuals in particular stand out as potential candidates to leave the Potteries during the off-season.
Ben Gibson
The first name that could feature prominently in summer discussions is experienced defender Ben Gibson.
Gibson joined Stoke in the summer of 2024 on a free transfer following his departure from Norwich City. The 33-year-old centre-back signed a three-year deal at the bet365 Stadium, a contract that will keep him at the club until he reaches his mid-thirties.
At the time of his arrival—when Stoke were still managed by Steven Schumacher, now at Bolton Wanderers—the signing was widely viewed as a sensible addition. Gibson brought with him considerable experience from spells at Middlesbrough and Burnley, and many believed he could add leadership and stability to Stoke’s back line.
However, the move has not quite delivered the impact supporters may have expected.
According to salary estimates from Capology, Gibson is believed to earn more than £35,000 per week, making him the highest-paid player in the Stoke squad. With such a substantial wage, the expectation would normally be that he plays a central role in the team and consistently performs at a high level.
Instead, his involvement has decreased significantly in recent months. While Gibson was initially a regular starter under Schumacher and later under interim boss Narcís Pèlach, his role has diminished since Robins took charge.
Injuries across the squad have occasionally brought him back into the team as a temporary solution, but he has largely been used as an emergency option rather than a first-choice defender. Given his sizeable salary and limited playing time, Stoke may consider moving him on during the summer window in an attempt to rebalance their wage structure.
That said, his current earnings could present a major obstacle to any potential transfer, as few clubs may be willing to match those financial terms.
Sam Gallagher
Another player whose future could come under scrutiny is striker Sam Gallagher.
Gallagher also arrived at Stoke in the summer of 2024, joining from Blackburn Rovers for a reported £1.5 million fee. Even at the time of the transfer, the move raised a few eyebrows.
Throughout his career—with spells at Southampton, Birmingham City, and Blackburn—Gallagher had never been known as a particularly prolific goalscorer. Nevertheless, Stoke committed a seven-figure transfer fee and reportedly offered the striker wages in the region of £25,000 per week.
One factor that likely appealed to the club was his previous reliability in terms of availability. During his early seasons at Blackburn’s Ewood Park, Gallagher regularly featured in the team, making at least 34 league appearances in each of his first four campaigns.
However, warning signs had already begun to appear during his final season with Rovers, when his game time started to decline significantly.
Stoke ultimately took a gamble on the forward, but so far it has not paid off. Now 30 years old, Gallagher has spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch since arriving at the bet365 Stadium. Injuries have severely limited his availability, making it difficult for him to establish any meaningful impact in the team.
Considering his wages and limited contributions, the situation has become increasingly problematic for the club. Like Gibson, Gallagher remains under contract until 2027, which further complicates any attempt to move him on.
Ideally, Stoke may prefer to part ways with the striker during the summer as they look to reshape the squad. Yet once again, his salary could make finding a suitable buyer a challenging task.
A Costly Problem Stoke Must Address
For Stoke City, the financial implications of these two deals are hard to ignore. Combined, Gibson and Gallagher are believed to earn more than £60,000 per week. Yet between them, they have made only a handful of league appearances this season.
For a club aiming to rebuild and eventually challenge for promotion, such an investment in players with limited availability is far from ideal.
If Stoke are serious about pushing toward the Championship’s upper tier and eventually returning to the Premier League, reducing costly inefficiencies in the squad may become a priority. That could mean making difficult decisions regarding experienced but underperforming players.
As the summer transfer window approaches, it would not be surprising if both Gibson and Gallagher emerge as potential candidates for departure as the Potters continue their long-term rebuild.
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