Stoke City eye £5 million centre‑back – Two Potters could miss out

Stoke City have placed a £5 million valuation on San Diego‑based centre‑back Manu Duah, the 21‑year‑old Ghanaian who could join the Potters as the transfer window draws to a close, a move that two current Potters are firmly expected to resent.

Action images By James Pennington AM GMT+1, a Stoke‑on‑Trent native who graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2025 with a 1:1 (Hons) in Sports Journalism, began his career with Football League World. Add Us. Summary. Generate a summary. Like. Follow. Followed. Thread. Log. Here you can try, show, explain, I’m happy to give images.

Why Stoke target a centre‑back

Stoke City’s defensive record in the 2024/25 Championship was among the league’s worst, and only the performances of goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who prevented 10.8 goals kept the club from slipping into League One. Injuries to key defenders have left the Potters short‑handed, prompting the search for a new, reliable centre‑back.

Duah’s profile and abilities

Manu Duah, 21, spent his second professional season after playing for college side Santa Barbara and being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft for San Diego. Standing 6 ft 4 in, he missed the first half of the 2025 MLS season through injury but returned as a defensive‑midfielder before cementing his place at centre‑back, where he now leads the MLS in completed passes and touches. His physicality, shot‑blocking, ball‑recovery and long‑ball distribution have drawn Stoke’s interest, with the club valuing him at around £5 million.

The addition would bolster a back line that already includes Luke Graham, signed from Dundee for £2 million, and Ben Johnson on loan from Ipswich Town. By strengthening the centre, Stoke hope to avoid a repeat of the previous season’s defensive fragility and to climb the Championship table as the window closes.

For Duah, a move to the English second tier would represent a step up in competition and an opportunity to develop his game in a more physical environment, while Stoke would gain a modern, tall defender capable of contributing to build‑up play. The transfer could also push existing squad members down the pecking order.

Two current Potters are likely to feel the impact. Ukrainian right‑back Maksym Talovierov, 26, who made 16 Championship appearances (13 starts) after joining from Plymouth Argyle, is already behind Ben Wilmot, Bosun Lawal and Luke Graham; the arrival of Duah would push him further down the hierarchy. Veteran defender Ben Gibson, 33, featured 13 times last season as an emergency option; his high wages are the only barrier to departure, and a new centre‑back would further limit his minutes.

With the September 1 deadline looming, Stoke appear ready to spend again, and if the Duah deal materialises within the next week, the Potters could solidify their defence before the window shuts.