"Around £7m-8m" - Stoke City man touted to be in-demand during January transfer window | OneFootball

The Dutchman was said to have been a target for Leeds United over the summer

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Stoke City had to fend off transfer interest for a number of their top stars this summer, with the Potters managing to keep hold of the majority of the key players at the bet365 Stadium.

The likes of Bae Jun-ho, Wouter Burger and Million Manhoef were all said to have been wanted men over the summer, although the trio still ply their trade in Staffordshire, with new man Narcis Pelach now at the helm.

But no sooner has the summer transfer window shut than attention turns towards January, where clubs will be trying their best to keep hold of their top talent, as well as prising players away from elsewhere.

With that in mind, we spoke to Football League World’s Stoke City fan pundit Sam Harrison about who he thinks could be the player to attract the most interest once the calendar year begins afresh.

Stoke City, Million Manhoef prediction made ahead of January transfer window

While Burger and Jun-ho have continued to prove their worth at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, it is Manhoef who Harrison has earmarked as being the most in-demand in three months time, with his early performances certainly helping his cause.

The Dutchman has already had reported interest from Championship rivals Leeds United over the summer, and after netting three times in eleven appearances in all competitions, the tricky forward has proved himself to be a top EFL star once again.

It was the 22-year-old’s goal against Plymouth Argyle that secured City’s only league away win of the season so far at Home Park, with his moment of magic enough to secure a win for Steven Schumacher in one of his final few matches as Potters boss.

And despite the talents around him in the Stoke side, Burgess is confident there will be plenty more interest in Manhoef’s services once Auld Lang Syne has been sung this winter.

The City fan said: “One player that I think is going to get some transfer interest is Million Manhoef.

“I think we do have a number of players with a lot of quality that have had interest before; Wouter Burger, Bae Jun-ho, but I just think that there will be more interest in Manhoef, because he will suit a lot more teams’ styles.

“But looking at that, you are looking at teams that are at the top end of the Championship, the likes of Leeds, that were obviously interested in him before, will they maybe be looking for a different kind of winger someone who is going to cut in on his left and curl a ball in.

“That’s why I am saying that out of everyone I think that he might attract a bit of interest - that hopefully comes to nothing - but he could obviously be of interest to other clubs, because he could add something different and add the quality that Stoke know he has, to their team.”

Million Manhoef valuation ahead of January transfer window

City were said to want £10 million when Leeds were singing around just a couple of months ago, although the Yorkshire side then went on to sign Largie Ramazani [pictured] from UD Almeria to do their business on the flanks instead.

Whether Daniel Farke’s side return in January remains to be seen, but Burgess isn’t sure the Potters would be recouping an eight-figure sum if they were to let him go.

Sam continued: “To put a price on it is really tough, because in this day and age money flies everywhere. It is so difficult to talk about a player’s worth because it doesn’t really make sense.

“It’s really tough, i don’t know if I’m being biased or if it’s too low, but off the top of my head I am thinking £5 million.

“Maybe that is even too low, but I just feel that the quality that he has got, the age of him, and he is a Dutch youth international, so he has got plenty of potential.

“So maybe £5 million is even too low, and maybe we can look around £7-8 million, or even double digits, but I think that is maybe asking a bit too much.

“It is really tough in terms of price tag for Million Manhoef, because that could easily grow every season - and hopefully it does - and hopefully he doesn’t attract that attention from elsewhere.”