Mark Robins has played a blinder at Stoke City this summer with one transfer play, he’s going to be vital this season

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Stoke City have been very busy this summer and Mark Robins has been trying his best to build a squad capable of moving up the Championship in 2025/26.

The Potters avoided relegation on the final day of the campaign last time out, with the Staffordshire outfit’s excellent last game record continuing with a 0-0 draw against Derby County.

Maksym Talovierov has joined the club from Plymouth Argyle, while Sorba Thomas impressed for Wales after he departed Huddersfield Town for the bet365 Stadium earlier this summer.

Yet, the best transfer business of Stoke in this window has perhaps gone under the radar, and instead of a new signing, it involves keeping hold of a key player.

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Stoke City have done excellently to keep hold of Viktor Johansson

There are less than two weeks to go until the first Championship fixtures of 2025/26, with the Potters facing Derby in a reverse of the final day.

When the final whistle went at Pride Park in May, there were some concerns that it could have been Viktor Johansson’s final game as a Stoke player, but nearly three months later and the Swedish shot-stopper is still at the bet365 Stadium.

He proved to be crucial last season, and without his saves and clean sheets, the Potters may not have avoided relegation.

Johansson is one of the very best goalkeepers in the Championship, and Stoke are lucky to have a player of his calibre between the posts. However, there will be one significant fear with over a month still to go in the transfer window.

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Viktor Johansson could still leave the Potters this summer

The transfer window comes to a close on 1 September at 7pm, and that means that Stoke are still vulnerable to their number one leaving.

With Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper liked by West Ham United, the Blades may be in the market for a new goalkeeper in the coming weeks, and Johansson would be the perfect replacement.

Elsewhere, Burnley look as though they are going to lose James Trafford to Manchester City and Stoke’s goalkeeper could be the answer to their problems.

Johansson does have Premier League ambitions, but he is happy at the Potters and it would take a substantial offer for Robins to let his best player depart.