Stoke City are actively seeking a new midfielder this summer following reports indicating that Josh Laurent may depart the club. Laurent, who has one year left on his contract with the Potters, has attracted interest from various clubs in England and abroad, including Birmingham City. However, according to TeamTALK, Stoke have received a bid from Turkish club Sivasspor for Laurent.

Despite this bid, Football Insider reported shortly after that Laurent himself has rejected the move to Sivasspor. The outlet also suggested that Laurent is content to wait for an offer that aligns better with his preferences.

Last season, the 29-year-old was a key figure for Stoke City under managers Alex Neil and later Steven Schumacher, making 40 appearances in midfield across all competitions. Despite the team’s challenges and relegation battle, Laurent’s contributions were notable, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

With Laurent’s potential departure looming, Stoke’s recruitment team has begun considering replacements, one of whom includes Bosun Lawal, recently relegated to League Two with Fleetwood Town. Football Insider mentioned Stoke’s interest in Lawal, who spent last season on loan from Celtic at Highbury Stadium. However, Premier League club Bournemouth is also monitoring Lawal’s situation with Celtic.

Interest in Lawal extends beyond Stoke City, as reported by The Scottish Sun in May, with Queens Park Rangers, Derby County, and Portsmouth also expressing interest. Lawal, valued at £250,000 according to Transfermarkt, remains under Celtic’s purview, with any potential departure likely pending evaluation by head coach Brendan Rodgers during pre-season, according to journalist Alan Nixon.