Analysing the Transfer Gossip – 25th July

Stoke are interested in signing Queens Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt, 24, on loan, but the Championship side would prefer a permanent deal.

Adel Taarabt

What’s the story? Oh dear. Stoke need flair and attacking talent,and Taarabt’s unjustly inflated reputation for doing so sees this link come about.

Does it make sense? No. Taarabt is not the answer. Even though Hughes got the odd decent showing from him at QPR, he mostly disappointed. Does he really want to be bringing skeletons from his closet with him to his fresh start at Stoke? Taarabt doesn’t create many goals or score many and isn’t a hard worker.

Is the price right? He could be good in the Championship despite showing he can’t play in the Premier League, but the question is whether Redknapp wants him or not. If not, it could be as little as £3m but otherwise more is not acceptable to pay.

Will it happen? 6/10 – Hughes made some diabolical signings at QPR and could be about to repeat all the same mistakes again if he gets desperate. With no forwards added, this becomes slightly more likely.