Tomas Rigo’s agent speaks as coach reveals when £3m Stoke City transfer will happen

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While Stoke City look to confirm their status as Championship pace-setters with a statement win over Southampton this weekend, the impending arrival of Tomas Rigo from Banik Ostrava is another reason to get excited in the Potteries.

As Divin Mubama and Sorba Thomas fly out of the blocks, six goals and assists between the new signings across their first two league appearances under Mark Robins, the Potters still feel a central midfielder short.

Despite the fact fans favourite Steven Nzonzi made a stunning return to the Bet365 Stadium, Stoke City’s explosive start comes despite the loss of former captain Wouter Burger.

Burger moved to Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim in July. And while Robins and co obviously feel that 36-year-old Nzonzi still has something to offer, Stoke’s ongoing pursuit of the aforementioned Rigo shows that their business is not done yet in the centre of the park.

Slovakian journalist Jan Jasenka believes that Tomas Rigo could become a Stoke player next week, in a deal reportedly worth £3 million.

Speaking to Sport24, the Slovakia international’s agent – Martin Stepanovsky – kept his cards close to his chest. But it appears that everything is heading in the right direction, a picture-perfect start to the season set to continue.

Tomas Rigo’s agent speaks out as Stoke City close in on Banik Ostrava ace

Stepanovsky confirms that he and Rigo believe this is ‘the best time’ for a fresh start and a new challenge after two years at Banik Ostrava, although he was understandably keen to avoid going into details regarding that impending switch to Staffordshire.

“Unfortunately, in this situation I will not be specific, so as not to jeopardise the negotiations that are taking place around Tomas Rigo,” the agent says. “I cannot even confirm the negotiations with Stoke City at the moment.

“[But] now is the best time for him to move on. We all feel it and that is how we interpret it towards Banik.”

Rigo has been likened to former Arsenal and Chelsea superstar Cesc Fabregas

Ipswich Town were linked with Rigo back in January, when Kieran McKenna’s title favourites were still a Premier League outfit.

Perhaps most excitingly, from a Stoke perspective, Rigo has been likened to Cesc Fabregas, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Slovakia legend Marek Hamsik, once Napoli’s all-time record goalscorer.

Jonny Davies, a Potters supporter who works in the Czech Republic as Slavia Prague’s academy manager, adds that Stoke will be getting a ‘very creative player’ in conversation with The Sentinel.

“He’s technically gifted, so his first touch and his passing range are very good,” Davies explained. “It all means he’s quite exciting to watch. He plays a bit of a hybrid role for Ostrava, so he’s equally as good as a kind of deep-lying playmaker.

“He keeps the ball moving and has this long passing range so is able to play the ball over long distances, but then he’s also able to play higher up between the lines too.

“He has the vision to receive the ball in small spaces and play intricate kind of penetrative passes in the final third, so I would say being in possession is his main strength.”

Banik Ostrava coach Pavel Hapel thinks Potters transfer will have to wait

There may be a very obvious reason why Stoke have to wait until after their trip to Southampton to get Rigo through the door.

Banik Ostrava face Celje in their Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday night. Head coach Pavel Hapel even believes that Rigo could still be at his disposal until August 29th, after the second leg has taken place.

“That’s more of a question for them, but I’m counting on them,” Hapal told In Fotbol when asked about Rigo and the AZ Alkmaar-bound Matej Sin.

“Even if they were to leave in the near future, they will be with us at least for Thursday’s duel, the match against Slovacko and the home cup rematch [with Celje next Thursday]. Their minds are set on wanting to help Banik as much as possible.”