By the time FC Midtjylland launched a last-minute approach for Wouter Burger, Stoke City manager Mark Robins had stated that he was unwilling to lose anyone.
It was thought that Mark Robins would mostly have to make do with what he had at SCFC heading into the winter transfer season because Stoke City had a busy summer transfer window.
Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Ali Al-Hamadi were brought in on loan by the Potters, who were able to make a few acquisitions. Only Niall Ennis left, though, and that was the end of it.
That did not, however, deter late interest in a crucial member of the team. In the last moments of deadline day, Danish team FC Midtjylland attempted to sign Dutch midfielder Wouter Burger but were unsuccessful.
The manager of Stoke City, Robins, has already expressed his displeasure at seeing any players depart late on the day of the deadline, much less one as significant as Burger.
The SCFC manager expressed his happiness to Stoke on Trent Live about keeping the 23-year-old, saying it would have been extremely difficult to replace any outgoing players at such a late stage.
The Stoke City manager stated, “We were looking at trying to do something on the incoming front and it didn’t quite manage to materialize, but I’m pleased we didn’t lose anyone either.”
“I’m glad Wouter is still here because there was a chance we would lose him. He is a tremendously talented player, a highly significant player, and someone who I believe has room to grow.
It would have been quite tough for me to change anyone in the squad at that point, and I believe that this player has played in every game. It is challenging to replace someone at that point, particularly given the conditions surrounding injuries, injured players, and their recoveries.
During his debut season at Stoke City, Burger was a notable performer. In 2023, he felt like a bold addition to FC Basel, and he performed as such during his debut season.
But for the 23-year-old, this season has been more difficult. He and several other players didn’t fit in with the short-lived manager Narcis Pelach’s strategies.
However, there is hope that Burger can return to his peak under Robins. It will be hoped that the midfielder, who has started all but one of the last nine Championship games, can regain the form that made him stand out the previous season.
Now that the transfer window is over, Robins and SCFC will concentrate on ensuring their continued existence and maximizing their chances for the rest of the season.
With 32 points from 30 games, Stoke City is currently ranked 18th in the Championship standings. There is hope that they can find the form to avoid the bottom three and possibly push higher, even though they are currently only five points above the drop.
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