Chairman will back Hughes to bring in experienced players.
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Stoke City chairman has given his backing to new manager Mark Hughes to bring in experienced players to the club in the transfer window…providing they’re not too old, Sky Sports reports.
The Potters had the oldest squad in the Premier League last season with the likes of Michael Owen, Matthew Upson, Rory Delap, Mamady Sidibe, Carlo Nash and Dean Whitehead all seeing some playing time at one point or another. However, all of those players have been allowed to leave as Hughes looks to stamp his authority on the club.
Tony Pulis’ departure from the club has already yielded changes at the club, and chairman Peter Coates has told supporters to expect more over the coming weeks as he prepares to back Hughes in the transfer market, but he has also insisted that despite the veteran squad flirting with relegation last term, he hon’t be forcing Hughes to stick with signing younger stars.
“When you’re dealing in the transfer market, you like the players to be the right age so they have a residual value,” he told the Daily Star.
“But that doesn’t mean we are going to sign exclusively younger players.
“There’s a certain age beyond which we’re not comfortable buying because there will be no value afterwards – but a team also needs experience.
“Mark wants to have a good look at the squad and I don’t think there will be huge changes.”