Hughes hopeful of new signings after ‘difficult window’

The transfer window may have entered the final week of negotiations but Stoke City boss Mark Hughes insists he’s still active and determined to add to his squad this summer.

With Premier League spending set to smash through the the £1bn barrier for the time in history, Hughes will remain on alert as the countdown gathers momentum through until next Wednesday’s 11pm deadline.

The Potters have already captured the services of Welsh international Joe Allen from Liverpool, and Egyptian winger Ramadan Sobhi from Al Ahly, this summer for a combined outlay of £18M.

(Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

But Hughes is not done just yet as he looks to add further quality to his squad and challenge for a European spot this season.

“It’s been a difficult window to be perfectly honest, and there have been deals that haven’t been in the public domain that we have had to walk away from,” he said.

“We have brought Joe Allen in and Ramadan, and whilst we are delighted to have got them over the line there are still one or two others areas we would like to address if we possibly can.

“People may think that we aren’t too active at the moment,  but let me assure them, we are all working incredibly hard to try and make a couple of things happen.

“There is still time, and people’s attitudes sometimes changes towards the end of the window, so we will see what happens.

“On occasions you have to let certain things run their course and give them time that they deserve –so maybe some of the deals we have been working on for a while may yet come to fruition.

“We remain hopeful.”