Mohamed Elyounoussi was linked with a move to Stoke City on Monday, and Potters coach Paul Hart has been quizzed about whether or not the winger is a genuine target.
As quoted by Stoke-on-Trent Live, the assistant manager was jovial in his response when asked about Elyounoussi, but did not rule out a possible move. He said:
I can’t even say it. We would like to add, but it’s not easy. We will see.
The Norway international reportedly has an agreement to join Besiktas, however, and a move to Turkey appears more likely.
Read Southampton’s verdict
Elyounoussi suits a move to the Super Lig more than the Championship. He has struggled to adapt to English football since his £16 million transfer from FC Basel last summer, and it is difficult to see how he would flourish at Stoke.
Nathan Jones deploys a system that does not necessarily extract the most from orthodox wide players, and the 25-year-old is hardly a good fit for the Potters on paper.
It is without a doubt that Elyounoussi should be surplus to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s requirements for the Premier League season, but it will be important to ensure that his next destination is suitable for the player.
If he can recapture his form from in Switzerland at a loan club – likely to be Besiktas – then there is the potential that we will be able to recoup at least a portion of the significant transfer fee that was spent on his acquisition.
A loan to Stoke, though, doesn’t seem to make much sense at all.
