Stoke City are among the Championship clubs interested in LASK defender Melayro Bogarde, The72 has been told.
Stoke City are looking to further bolster their ranks before the end of the summer transfer window as they bid to make strides forward under Mark Robins. SCFC had a close shave with relegation last time around, and they must improve in the 2025/26 campaign.
In the bid to do so, Robins has his eyes on more new signings. The likes of Maksym Talovierov and Sorba Thomas make for eye-catching additions, but sales have left gaps in the squad that need filling.
In the search for fresh faces, one man on the Potters’ radar is Dutchman Melayro Bogarde.
The72 has been told that Stoke City are interested in the 23-year-old, who currently plays in Austria with LASK. They’re not the only ones keen though, with other Championship clubs keeping tabs on Bogarde.
The Rotterdam-born defender has been with the reigning Austrian Bundesliga champions since last summer, when he joined from German side TSG Hoffenheim on a free transfer at the end of his contract.
His deal with LASK runs until 2028, but with a valuation of around £1m, SCFC could look to tempt Bogarde to the Championship.
Versatile prospect Melayro Bogarde on Robins’ transfer radar
After starting out his youth career in his native Holland with Swift Boys and Feyenoord, Bogarde linked up with Hoffenheim in 2018 and progressed through the Bundesliga club’s ranks.
After finding action at various age group levels at club and international level, the Stoke City target went on to play 17 times for the Hoffenheim first-team while also gaining experience on loans with FC Groningen and PEC Zwolle.
However, it has been his permanent move to Austria with LASK that has yielded the most success. Bogarde was a regular in their successful title charge and UEFA Conference League campaign, chipping in with a goal and three assists in his 38 outings.
Bogarde offers his services in a variety of positions, playing as a right-sided centre-back, right-back and defensive midfielder primarily. He even featured on the left-hand side on occasion last season.
Melayro Bogarde’s stats by position in 2024/25 – via Transfermarkt (starts only)
| Position played | Games |
| Defensive midfield | 11 |
| Right-back | 11 |
| Left wing-back | 2 |
| Left-back | 2 |
| Right wing-back | 1 |
Stoke City have key areas to strengthen before summer transfer window ends
Stoke City have completed six new signings so far, but after a string of departures, depth is needed in some key areas at the Bet365 Stadium.
Bogarde could be an ideal player to plug some of those gaps too. Talovierov and Ashley Phillips’ signings means there are plenty of options at centre-back, but the right-back and defensive midfield roles that the Dutchman is highly capable in are pretty bare.
Junior Tchamadeu is the only natural right-back while Wouter Burger and Sol Sidibe’s sales mean only Lewis Baker, Ben Pearson and Tatsuki Seko remain as options in midfield.
As such, Stoke City transfer news could come thick and fast over the next month as they look to end the summer window in a strong position.
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