Stoke look to improve squad, including £10m James Chester move

The club had a difficult season last year, finishing bottom of the Premier League, and are now preparing for their first season in the Championship for a decade.

Xherdan Shaqiri was allowed to leave the club for Liverpool, and Gary Rowett is now looking to reinvest the money made by that and the other slaes at the club to improve their squad for a 46-game season in England's second division.

The 'Potters' are confident of sealing a deal for Aston Villa centre-back James Chester, who it is believed will cost around £10 million. The player turned out for his side 30 times last season and has a lot of experience of life in the Championship having played 5 seasons in the league over his career.

In the attacking areas, Rowett is also reported to be interested in Southampton player Sam Gallagher according to the 'Daily Mail', but it seems as though Sheffield United are also interested in the player. He made 33 appearances for Championship rivals Birmingham City last year, netting on 6 occasions.

Newcastle United forward Dwight Gayle could be another player heading to the Bet356 Stadium, with him scoring 20 times in the Championship for the 'Magpies' in 2016-17 but failing to make an impact in the Premier League last season, although this move could be complicated by Saolomon Rondon's proposed move to Tyneside from West Brom.

Stoke have already brought in the likes of Benik Afobe and Oghenekaro Etebo in to the club, but Rowett believes that further strengthening is needed.