Johansson sold: Stoke City will want to avoid these 2 nightmare transfer scenarios this January | OneFootball

FLW have outlined two scenarios that the Potters will not want to become a reality this month

Stoke City are undergoing another culture shift as Mark Robins beds into his new role as Potters manager, and the former Coventry City boss is sure to want to put his own stamp on his playing squad in the coming months to give his side the best chance of success going forward.

The Potters are on their third manager or head-coach of this campaign with Robins, and his experience and nous is sure to command respect throughout the club and squad, as they look to pull away from the Championship relegation places this season.

Stoke are yet to conduct any business in the January window up to now, but have recently decided to recall Lewis Baker from his loan spell at Blackburn Rovers, with more incomings and outgoings expected in the weeks to come.

Robins will not want to lose any of his key men in the next few weeks, but Stoke's position in the Championship table could mean that they face offers from higher-placed clubs for some of their best players.

With that in mind, Football League World have outlined two nightmare transfer scenarios that the Potters will want to avoid this month...

Viktor Johansson is sold

Swedish keeper Viktor Johansson was impressive in his four years with Rotherham United, as he helped them win promotion to the Championship in 2022 and then won their Player of the Year award for 2022/23, and so it did not come as a surprise to see a real transfer battle commence for his signature upon their relegation in May.

The 26-year-old made the move to Stoke that same month for a reported initial £750,000 fee, with potential add-ons taking it beyond the £1 million mark, and has seen his performances go up another notch in the Potteries so far this term under three different managers so far.

Johansson has, by far and away, been the Potters' best performer this term, and his brilliant saves week-in, week-out have kept them in games and allowed the team to stay out of the relegation places during their poor run under now-sacked boss Narcis Pelach.

The Swedish international's Championship goals prevented, at 9.6, is by far and away the best among all goalkeepers in the second-tier, and so keeping hold of him this month will be absolutely key to any success they have in the second-half of the season, and any potentially sizeable offers must be immediately knocked back.

No claims have emerged about possible interest in Johansson's signature in the January window as yet, but his impressive performances will certainly not be going unnoticed, and given his age and potential to improve even further, clubs looking for a quick fix to their goalkeeping troubles could attempt to sign the Swede as soon as possible.

Tom Cannon is recalled by Leicester City

Summer loan signing Tom Cannon has been very effective in front of goal for Stoke so far this term, and the club cannot afford to lose him in the January window if they wish to continue their challenge for a top-half finish and not get dragged into a relegation battle this season.

The Potters beat off some very strong competition to secure the Leicester City frontman on loan in the last week of the summer window, and he endured a slow start to life in the Potteries, but has proven himself as one of best second-tier marksmen over the last few months, and most of Stoke's positive attacking play flows through him right now.

Cannon has shown great signs of his clinical striking ability and quick movement in the final third, and after crucial developments, previously revealed that he has a recall clause in his loan deal that the Foxes could potentially trigger this month, to sell him on for a sizeable fee and leave the Potters short-changed. Lots of rumours around his future have begun to emerge.

The Sun claimed last week that both Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town are keen on the 22-year-old, but it would need a massive offer to take over his Stoke deal, while TEAMtalk have revealed that Sheffield United continue to hold an interest in his services, but again, would have to strike a permanent deal with Leicester to take him from the Potters.

Stoke's striker situation means that they cannot afford to see Cannon leave, with Sam Gallagher's injury woes meaning they are in need of attacking additions to join the 22-year-old in attack, not instead of him.

Gallagher has impressed when he has played, but can not be relied on, and neither Niall Ennis nor Emre Tezgel have proven goal records at second-tier level, with either player likely to depart themselves in the coming weeks, so it is pretty imperative that the Potters do not lose their main striker that boasts some decent Championship credentials.