Stoke City Must Revive £7m Harry Amass Pursuit After Fresh Defensive Setback

Stoke City began their 2026/27 Championship campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea City, highlighting several weaknesses that manager Mark Robins will need to address before the September transfer deadline.

Eric Bocat initially put the Potters ahead, but Swansea responded through Joseph Opoku and Adam Idah to leave Stoke empty-handed on the opening weekend.

The result also exposed Stoke’s lack of depth at full-back. With Junior Tchamadeu already sidelined after picking up a pre-season injury, Ben Wilmot was required to fill in at right-back. Things became even more difficult when Bosun Lawal was forced off shortly before half-time.

Stoke were also without experienced left-back Aaron Cresswell, who has reportedly been ruled out for an extended period after his latest injury setback.

The arrival of Ben Johnson on loan from Ipswich Town should provide some immediate cover, but Stoke still need to think beyond a short-term solution. With that in mind, Robins should consider returning to one of the club’s previous transfer targets.

Stoke City should accelerate Harry Amass move after Cresswell injury

Left-back has been a troublesome position for Stoke for several seasons, with numerous players taking turns in the role. Rhys Norrington-Davies, Josh Tymon, Lynden Gooch, Enda Stevens, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Eric Bocat and Cresswell have all featured there during recent campaigns.

The situation became particularly problematic last season when both Bocat and Cresswell were unavailable. Ben Gibson was occasionally pushed into the position before suffering his own injury, while Jesurun Rak-Sakyi was subsequently forced to operate at left-back.

That instability underlines why Stoke need to find a dependable long-term option, and Manchester United youngster Harry Amass could potentially provide the answer.

The 19-year-old is reportedly available for around £7 million plus potential add-ons, with Manchester United believed to be willing to cash in on the academy product this summer.

Stoke previously showed interest in Amass during the January transfer window, although the proposed move never came to fruition. Given their current shortage at left-back, Robins should now revisit the possibility of bringing the youngster to the bet365 Stadium.

Amass impressed during Championship loan spell

Amass gained valuable experience of senior football during a loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday last season, where he was regularly deployed as a wing-back under Henrik Pedersen.

Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding the Owls, the Manchester United youngster made a strong impression and picked up several club awards for his performances. He scored once and registered an assist across 21 Championship appearances before United recalled him and arranged another second-tier loan, this time with Norwich City.

His spell at Norwich was unfortunately cut short after he made only one substitute appearance before suffering an injury that forced him back to Manchester for treatment.

Amass has since featured for Manchester United during pre-season under Michael Carrick, where his displays have reportedly caught the eye. With his future at Old Trafford uncertain, Stoke could have an opportunity to secure a promising young defender on a permanent basis.

Why Amass could be ideal for Stoke

One of Amass’ biggest strengths is his versatility. He can operate as a conventional left-back in a four-man defence or play as a wing-back when a team uses three centre-backs. His athleticism could also allow him to operate higher up the pitch if required.

His time at Sheffield Wednesday demonstrated that he can contribute at both ends of the pitch. The youngster showed plenty of energy, attacking intent and technical ability while also making a significant number of defensive contributions.

Harry Amass’ Championship record in 2025/26

• Appearances: 22
• Goals: 1
• Assists: 1
• Expected assists: 2.47
• Successful dribbles: 34
• Defensive contributions: 153

At just 19, Amass still has plenty of room to develop. Regular Championship football could provide him with the ideal environment to continue his progression, while Stoke could potentially benefit from securing a player with considerable long-term upside.

Interestingly, the last 19-year-old Stoke signed permanently from Manchester United was Ryan Shawcross in 2007. Given how successful that move ultimately proved to be, the Potters could hope for a similar outcome if they manage to land Amass.

Robins still has plenty of work to complete

Stoke have already welcomed five new players this summer, while the expected arrivals of George Hirst and Ben Johnson from Ipswich would take their total to seven additions.

However, the opening-day defeat demonstrated that more recruitment is required before the transfer window closes in early September.

Another attacking option or two could be useful following Hirst’s arrival, while strengthening central midfield and left-back should also remain priorities.

Amass could solve the latter problem while simultaneously giving Stoke a young player capable of developing into a long-term asset.

After years of disappointing finishes in the lower half of the Championship, Robins needs to find a way to change Stoke’s fortunes. Bringing in Amass would not solve every problem within the squad, but securing a talented young left-back for a reported £7 million could represent a significant step in the right direction.