Championship pundits’ verdict on Stoke City ‘badly needed’ transfer business

Maksym Talovierov is an upgrade to Stoke City’s back line, Divin Mubama fits the ‘all-round number 9 build’ and Sorba Thomas ticks a box on sensible transfers.

That is according to the Championship pundits behind the Not The Top 20 podcast, who have been scrutinising all the summer business in the EFL including Mark Robins’ first three additions for the 2025/26 season.

Ukraine centre-back Talovierov, aged 25, and Wales winger Thomas, aged 26, have joined permanently from Plymouth Argyle and Huddersfield Town respectively while striker Mubama, aged 20, has arrived on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

“Talovierov’s stay in Plymouth was short but impactful,” writes Ali Maxwell in this week’s transfer briefing. “He’ll be fondly remembered by Argyle fans, not just for scoring the opening goal in the valiant FA Cup defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad, but for celebrating every tackle, header and block with as much gusto as he could muster.

“It’s believed that Argyle will recoup the same fee as the one they parted with in January when they signed Talovierov from LASK Linz, so it’s fair to assume that either a relegation clause or a gentleman’s agreement was in place.

“Stoke badly needed defensive reinforcements, and this represents an upgrade to their backline. We’re in a different era now, but fans may love their giant Ukrainian centre-back as much as they loved Messrs Huth and Shawcross.”

Mubama has a prolific record in youth football for both first club West Ham and Man City, who he joined last summer for a tribunal-set compensation figure of £2 million. This will be his first taste of regular senior football and Stoke hope he is ready to hit the ground running.

Maxwell said: “It seems right that the 20-year-old is deemed talented enough for his first senior loan to land him in the Championship. Mubama fits the all-round No.9 build that teams are looking for these days; he could well have a big career ahead of him, and Stoke will hope he can show that potential straight away.”

Thomas showed his quality in June internationals with Wales having spent last season on loan with Nantes in France.

Huw Davies wrote: “File this under Sensible Transfers, Efficiently Done. Rather than have his future in question all summer, Huddersfield have moved Thomas on quickly to free up wages, while Stoke have beaten the rush to snap him up on a three-year deal.”