Premier League vultures warned Stoke City would demand ‘astronomical’ fee for in-form forward.
Stoke City seem like they have unearthed a diamond in Million Manhoef.
Three goals in two games to take Million Manhoef into the international break and two more on Netherlands duty before heading back to Stoke City.
Things are going well for Stoke’s right winger at the moment with his dangerous skill and pace combination and a hunger to get on the scoresheet. The diminutive but tough 22-year-old is back at Clayton Wood after helping the Netherlands qualify for the under-21s European Championships, starring in wins over Georgia and North Macedonia over the last few days.
He had come off the bench a fortnight ago to help rinse Middlesbrough 5-0 in the Carabao Cup and he grabbed a lovely winner as Stoke beat Plymouth in the Championship, cutting in past Bali Mumba to find the bottom corner and earning praise from Wayne Rooney in the process. One thing knowing what he’s going to do at this level and another to try to stop it.
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“It’s a good finish from their lad. It’s something we identified, he does that a lot,” said Rooney. “He cuts in and tries to go near post. We worked with Bali (Mumba) on that and he does everything right really. For a forward, it’s clever play, shooting through the defender’s legs. Bali has tried to block it and it goes through his legs and I think Conor (Hazard) maybe was a bit unsighted.”
It has all got Stoke fans chattering about what they’ve got on their hands. Here’s a little taster of what is being said heading into this weekend’s return to action against Oxford United.
Dan Milward: Hope we can keep him for the rest of the season. There will be a few clubs sniffing around even more.
