Stoke City Open to Sam Gallagher Exit as Mark Robins Plans Squad Overhaul
Stoke City are preparing for what will be their ninth consecutive season in the Championship as they continue their long search for a return to the Premier League. Since suffering relegation from the top flight in 2018, the Potters have struggled to establish themselves as genuine promotion contenders and are now looking to use the summer transfer window to reshape the squad under manager Mark Robins.
Despite the transfer window being open for some time, Stoke are yet to complete their first signing of the summer. However, the coming weeks are expected to be crucial as the club attempts to strengthen key areas while also reducing the wage bill by moving on several high-earning players who have failed to make the desired impact.
The club has endured a disappointing run of league finishes over the past decade. In each of the last ten seasons, Stoke have ended their campaign in the bottom half of the division in which they competed. Although they have only suffered one relegation during that period, their inability to challenge consistently near the top of the table has become a major concern for supporters.
There had been optimism during the previous campaign that Mark Robins could finally guide Stoke towards a more respectable finish. However, an alarming collapse in form during the latter stages of the season saw the team slide down the Championship standings, eventually finishing 17th and extending their unwanted record of bottom-half finishes.
While the club is believed to be closing in on deals for West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and Braga midfielder Djibril Soumare, who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, Stoke are also focusing on balancing the squad financially. One of the players reportedly available for transfer is experienced striker Sam Gallagher, whose spell at the bet365 Stadium has been heavily disrupted by injuries.
Heading into the new season, Stoke currently have several attacking options, including Milan Smit, Robert Bozenik, Nathan Lowe, Emre Tezgel and Sam Gallagher. With competition for places increasing, Robins is expected to reduce the number of forwards in his squad, with Gallagher emerging as the most likely player to depart.
According to reports from journalist Alan Nixon, Stoke are prepared to allow Gallagher to leave for a minimal transfer fee despite signing him from Blackburn Rovers for approximately £1.5 million in the summer of 2024. The decision reflects the club’s growing belief that the striker has not justified either the transfer fee or his substantial wages.
During his five-year spell at Blackburn, Gallagher was a dependable squad member, making more than 30 league appearances in four separate seasons. Unfortunately, he has been unable to reproduce that level of consistency since arriving at Stoke. Injuries have severely limited his availability, restricting him to just 22 Championship appearances in his first season and only 19 during the most recent campaign.
Across those two seasons, Gallagher managed only five league goals in 42 appearances. More concerning for Stoke has been the amount of time he has spent sidelined through injury, with periods on the treatment table outweighing the time he has actually been available for selection.
Financial considerations have also influenced the club’s thinking. Salary estimates suggest Gallagher earns more than £25,000 per week, making him one of Stoke City’s highest-paid players. Given his limited contribution on the pitch, the club believes moving him on would free up significant wages that could be invested elsewhere in the squad.
Stoke City fan pundit, Ryan Beresford, shared his opinion on Gallagher’s future, expressing sympathy for the striker while acknowledging that injuries have prevented supporters from seeing his true quality.
Beresford argued that Gallagher has consistently demonstrated his ability whenever he has been fit enough to play. In his view, the striker possesses excellent finishing instincts and has shown that he knows how to score goals at Championship level. Unfortunately, recurring injuries have prevented him from building momentum and delivering consistently over an extended period.
Although Beresford admitted he would personally like Gallagher to remain at the club, he also recognised the financial and sporting risks involved. Retaining an injury-prone player on a significant salary could prove costly, particularly if he continues spending more time recovering than contributing on the pitch.
He concluded by stating that Gallagher still has the qualities required to become one of the Championship’s most effective strikers if he can overcome his injury problems. However, given his recent record, there is understandable uncertainty about whether he will ever achieve that level consistently at Stoke City.
The club’s recent history with centre-forwards also adds context to the decision. Over the years, Stoke have signed several highly regarded strikers—including Saido Berahino, Sam Vokes and Scott Hogan—who ultimately failed to live up to expectations. Despite arriving with strong reputations, none were able to establish themselves as reliable goalscorers for the Potters.
Remarkably, Stoke have not produced a striker who has scored 20 or more goals in a single season for over two decades. The last player to achieve that milestone was Peter Thorne, whose prolific campaign came 26 years ago, highlighting the club’s long-standing struggles in the attacking department.
There is little doubt that Gallagher possesses the technical ability and finishing instincts to succeed in the Championship when fully fit. Nevertheless, with Robert Bozenik and Milan Smit expected to rank ahead of him in Mark Robins’ plans, opportunities are likely to be limited.
As a result, Stoke City appear increasingly willing to accept a modest transfer fee in order to remove Gallagher’s wages from the payroll and create space for new additions. Although his talent remains unquestioned, persistent injuries have prevented him from making the impact both he and the club had hoped for, making a summer departure seem the most practical solution for all parties involved.
