Exclusive: Sunderland, QPR and Birmingham plot move for Stoke City player

The Blues, Black Cats, Hoops and Rotherham United are keen on soon-to-be free agent Morgan Fox, sources have told Football League World

Stoke City have had a major clearout this summer ahead of the June 30 contract expiry date of plenty of their players, with experienced individuals set to depart.

The likes of Nick Powell and Sam Clucas will bring some relief to the wage bill at the Bet365 Stadium, and another face who will depart is Morgan Fox.

Despite being pretty much a regular under Alex Neil at the Potters last season, the 29-year-old was not offered a new deal and is set to depart, but it looks like the former Wales under-21 international is set to land on his feet.

Birmingham City, QPR, Sunderland and Rotherham United all keen to sign Morgan Fox

They include Sunderland, who narrowlyy informed Football League World that no less than four Championship clubs are keen to sign Fox this summer. missed out on the play-offs last season and are a club that perhaps need cover for Dennis Cirkin at left-back.

Also putting Fox on their transfer radar are Birmingham City, who look set to be active in the market when American hedge fund manager Tom Wagner’s takeover is approved by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Gareth Ainsworth is also keen to add Fox to his Queens Park Rangers squad ahead of the new season, whilst Rotherham United are also another second tier side interested in the soon-to-be free agent.

How did Morgan Fox perform in the 2022-23 season?

After barely featuring under previous Stoke manager Michael O’Neill in 2021-22, with just 15 matches under his belt in all competitions, Fox was a regular under his replacement Alex Neil, playing in all but one league game under the Scotsman following his August arrival.

Fox played on the left-hand side of a back three for the most part, but he also sometimes occupied a centre-back role in a back four and also played at his natural position of left-back – his versatility could be a reason that he is being eyed up by many Championship clubs.

His performances also caught the attention of Wales manager Rob Page, who has called Fox up to his last two international squads although he is yet to be capped for his nation after staying on the bench for all four matches.

Fox will now be expected to get a move to the Championship with so many clubs interested in securing his services, with his Stoke contract officially coming to an end next week.

Ross Stewart and Corry Evans will not be available for Sunderland for the start of the new season

Corry Evans and Ross Stewart will not be back fit for the start of the 2023/24 Championship season, Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has confirmed.

Mowbray suggested that Elliot Embleton could well return in time for their season-opener against newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Sunday 6th August while Dennis Cirkin would be “touch and go”.

Sunderland 2023/24 pre-season update

Having suffered defeat to Luton Town in last term’s play-off semi-final, Sunderland are preparing for another season of second tier football.

Mowbray’s side exceeded expectations by securing a top six finish in their first year back in the Championship and supporters will now be hoping for more of the same in the upcoming campaign.

A strong pre-season is likely to be key and the Black Cats ramp up their preparations with their first friendly fixture against local non-league sides South Shields and Gateshead on Saturday before heading away for their US tour.

Sunderland injury update

 

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s pre-season openers, Mowbray provided an update on the fitness of his squad and revealed that some of their key players would not be back in time for the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

He told Chronicle Live: “Corry (Evans) and Ross (Stewart) won’t be making the start of the season.

“Elliot (Embleton) I’m pretty sure will – or might be available for it – and he is going to play some part in the last game in the US.

“Let’s wait and see on that one. Dennis (Cirkin), I don’t think is too far away. He’ll be touch and go towards the beginning of the sea”

Mowbray also indicated when some of the new recruits would be integrated into the first team squad.

He said: “(Jenson) Seelt isn’t training at the moment, he has got an ankle injury. (Nectarios) Triantis is still in Australia because his season has only just finished, really, so we have given him a couple of weeks off to have a break before coming here for a ten-and-a-half month season.

“We’ll filter them back in over the next few weeks. It’s frustrating that we haven’t got Aji (Alese), we haven’t got Dennis, Ross, Corry, Elliott, but I’m sure they will filter in as the season starts. The likes of Elliott will filter into training before, really – maybe on the American trip.”

When will Ross Stewart and Corry Evans be back fit?

The Black Cats were heavily impacted by injuries last term – a factor that makes their play-off finish all the more impressive – and it’s a blow that those same issues will run into the new season.

While it’s positive that both Cirkin and Embleton could be available for the Ipswich game, it is not yet clear when Stewart and Evans – two of their key men – will return to action.

Stewart fired Sunderland to promotion from League One two seasons ago but managed just 15 appearances in 2022/23 due to a string of injury issues, including an achilles problem picked up in February that he is still recovering from.

Evans, the experienced midfield general and club captain, is also continuing his recovery after picking up an ACL issue midway through last season and will be missed in the centre of the park.