![\"Milan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_GettyImages-2250686967jpgt.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStoke City are trying to seal a deal for Go Ahead Eagles striker Milan Smit<\/p>\n
11:14, 23 Jan 2026Updated 11:19, 23 Jan 2026<\/p>\n
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Milan Smit joined Go Ahead Eagles in the summer of 2024.(Image: Giuseppe Velletri\/Soccrates\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Stoke City sound increasingly confident they can get a deal over the line to sign striker Milan Smit from Go Ahead Eagles.<\/p>\n
Smit, aged 22, has been over to England to try to finalise a move but it remains to be seen if it will be done in time, or if international clearance is granted in time, for him to be involved this weekend away at Birmingham City<\/a> in the Championship.<\/p>\n Reports in the Netherlands suggest that the fee could be worth up to about \u00a34.8 million but it also remains to be seen if he initially arrives on loan with an option to make the switch permanent in the summer.<\/p>\n It is clear that Stoke<\/a> have to carefully manage their finances and purchases to stay on the right side of profit and sustainability regulations and what is permitted and when within rolling three-year cycles.<\/p>\n It would be a major tonic for Mark Robins, who has lost five strikers to serious injuries in the last few weeks.<\/a><\/p>\n The manager remained coy this morning when asked for an update on Smit but he seemed confident enough to say: \u201cNot at the moment but you might not be too far away.\u201d<\/p>\n FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest Stoke City news, analysis and more via the Sentinel<\/a><\/p>\n It was put to Robins that transfer plans must have changed during the January window after his squad was hit with a sledgehammer of injuries. Two goalkeepers, a right-back, centre-half and midfielder have also been in the treatment room.<\/p>\n But a forward was top of his agenda going into the New Year and that\u2019s where it\u2019s come back to as the Potters try to keep in the play-off pack.<\/p>\n Robins<\/a> said: \u201cWe start off with one point and then things happen around it and then you end up right at the point you were before everything kicked off. Plans haven\u2019t changed but sort of circumvented and came back.\u201d<\/p>\n Stoke\u2019s recruitment department has evolved over the last couple of years, now led by Ian Torrance,<\/a> who joined last spring, and working closely with Robins and his coaches to make sure that everyone is on the same page, knowing who or what is feasible and planning for all eventualities.<\/p>\n Robins said: \u201cEssentially I get a package of individuals or a group of players and we have to look through and come to an agreement about which one we go for. The process is good and it will still become better over time. We\u2019ve got players in every position. We\u2019ve got players on, I say a list but it\u2019s more than a list. You\u2019ve got a profile of individuals in terms of positions that we look through and choose from.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, there are players on there, like everything else, yes I\u2019d like that one but you can\u2019t afford it so you end up moving around and then looking at other things that might be a little bit, or less of a finish to them where you\u2019ve got to polish them and give them different attributes \u2013 but you\u2019ve got sufficient attributes to work with and improve. Those are the things.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like a kid in a sweet shop when you want something but you can\u2019t have it and you have to choose something else. Straightaway you start to fit those into the team, that\u2019s how I try to build the team and see how it\u2019s going to fit, so to move from something is difficult because you really want one and things move all the time.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you\u2019ve got good attributes, good people and once you\u2019ve got your head around what they can bring at this particular time and what they could look like in the future, then obviously you go and try to complete deals and that\u2019s what happens. That gives you a vague understanding of what goes on.\u201d<\/p>\n Robins admits it is still a thrill to get to work with a centre-forward, having had great success in the past in helping strikers fulfil their potential.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt is exciting. It\u2019s also how they fit in, how they are received. You want to bring in people who straightaway make an impact among their peers because sometimes you\u2019ll bring players in and all of a sudden and everything goes up. That happens. Those players are really important.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sentinel suggested: \u201cPerhaps like happened with Sorba (Thomas) in the summer?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that\u2019s probably fair,\u201d said Robins. \u201cYou see that with players when they come in and they do something that is a little bit different. (Tomas) Rigo is like that, he can do things like he did on Wednesday. He\u2019s hopefully going to get that belief because he\u2019s a top player in the making. I\u2019m delighted with his contribution and certainly the goal at the end of that.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was much, much more confident and as he grew and after the goal it gives you that belief and confidence and adrenalin, the endorphins that are released when you score a goal or do something that is really appreciated by the supporters or his teammates. He\u2019s definitely getting there. Things like that have a positive impact on the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Good target? Click HERE to join the debate<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a349<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n Get Sky Sports here<\/a><\/p>\n Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports<\/a> bundle for the 2025\/26 season, saving members \u00a3336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.<\/p>\n Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.<\/p>\n We have launched a new WhatsApp group to deliver the latest Stoke news directly to your phone. Click the link select ‘Join Chat’<\/a> and you’re in. If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking ‘Exit Group’, simple as that.<\/p>\n Every day, the StokeonTrentLive football desk strive to deliver news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Stoke City content.<\/p>\n Our dedicated reporter Pete Smith – who you can follow on X<\/a> – follows Stoke home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.<\/p>\n With so much going on, we send out a daily free Stoke City newsletter which you can sign up for<\/a> – and means you’ll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox.<\/p>\n If you prefer reading our Stoke stories on your phone, consider downloading the Stoke-on-TrentLive app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Stoke City as one of your designated topics. 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