Stoke City: Nathan Jones favourite rotting at Southampton could be ideal January recruit | OneFootball

James Bree looks like an ideal, realistic target for the Potters

Stoke City are in clear need of some additions to their squad that are going to help Narcis Pelach's cause in the January window, and one favourite of a former Potters boss could be the ideal signing to bolster their struggling defensive ranks.

The Potters' form has been poor as of late, with no wins in their last six games, and three consecutive losses that have seen both Sunderland and Luton Town score late winners to confine them to defeat.

It is clear that Spanish boss Narcis Pelach needs to be active in the transfer market come the new year, particularly in defence, with Stoke having conceded the second-most xG of any Championship side so far this term, and being heavily reliant on Viktor Johansson's fine form in between the sticks.

Right-back has been an especially troublesome position for both Pelach and predecessor Steven Schumacher this season, with no new addition there in the summer window, despite the loss of standout loanee Ki-Jana Hoever, as he decided against a third return to the Potteries.

Stoke need to look for a new signing to compete with both Junior Tchamadeu and Ben Wilmot on the right side of defence next month, and Southampton outcast James Bree would be an ideal, realistic signing to make, most likely on loan, but possibly even on a permanent deal.

James Bree is what Stoke City need in the January window

Given Stoke's clear right-back troubles this season, it would make a lot of sense to secure a deal for Saints man James Bree, as he is out-of-favour in the top flight, and is unlikely to become a regular in Russell Martin's side on the right of defence anytime soon.

Bree's main Championship experience came with Luton Town, as he joined them on loan from Aston Villa in 2019, and he became a regular at right-back and right-wing-back for the Hatters in the second-tier, before a permanent move to join Nathan Jones' side in 2020.

The Wakefield-born defender racked up 20 assists in just over 140 appearances for the Hatters in three-and-a-half years, and was regarded as one of the top players in his position in the league for his speed, strength and good crossing ability, before he soon returned to the top-flight as Jones signed him as Southampton boss in January 2023.

Jones, however, was sacked a month later in early February, and so Bree has struggled to nail down a starting spot in either the Premier League or Championship at St Mary's over the last 18 months, so the club will surely see fit to let him leave on loan, or maybe even on a permanent deal, after the turn of the year.

He made just 13 starts in the second-tier as they won promotion back to the top-flight last season, but filled in at both right-back and left-back throughout the campaign, in a sign of versatility that would make him an even better fit for Stoke, given Enda Stevens' persistent injury issues and Eric Bocat's inconsistent form.

It has come as little surprise to see Russell Martin give him even less chances this term, with three of his five starts coming in the EFL Cup, including against Stoke on October 29, where he highlighted his clear ability with a late winner to seal a 3-2 victory for the Saints.

Bree has started Southampton's last two Premier League games, in a rare show of faith from boss Martin, but his latest appearance away at old club Aston Villa saw him taken off at half-time, so it seems unlikely that he will keep his place as January draws ever closer.

Stoke need their right-back issues to be solved ASAP

27-year-old Bree would definitely come in as the Potters' new first-choice right-back for the second half of the season if he did sign, given his experience and clear quality, and the fact that their existing players in the position have struggled so far this season.

Right-back has not been a position of trouble for Stoke over the last few seasons due to loanee Ki-Jana Hoever's impressive exploits, but they looked to have left themselves short this season after a summer without a new addition to that position.

20-year-old Junior Tchamadeu has been left as Stoke's first-choice this term, as a result, with Lynden Gooch as a back-up, but currently just recovering from injury and likely to be played further forward, and youngster Jaden Dixon, who can also step into that role, but has only been given chances in the cup games at 17-years-old.

Tchamadeu did start the season relatively well under Schumacher, but his form is bound to go through peaks and troughs, given his lack of Championship experience, and so centre-back Ben Wilmot has recently been deployed there by Pelach, and has looked relatively solid, but is not a long-term fix.

Stoke's defensive numbers are worryingly poor, and while centre-back also needs to be on the agenda for Pelach and sporting director Jon Walters next month, their first port of call at the back must be right-back, and Bree looks like an almost perfect fit for the Potters.