Football
Exclusive: Standard Liège Lead Three-Club Chase for Stoke Left-Back Eric Bocat
Standard Liege are preparing an improved offer for Stoke City's Eric Bocat, after their initial loan deal was rejected. The Belgian club is set to submit a second proposal with the fee increased to around €2million. Stoke is reluctant to sell the left-back, who is currently injured, as they aim for a Premier League return.
Stoke City v Swansea City - Sky Bet Championship by NurPhoto | Getty Images
Standard Liege are preparing an improved offer for Stoke City’s Eric Bocat, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Earlier this month, the Potters turned down a loan deal from the Belgium club for the left-back.
It was a loan with an option to buy for €1.5million, which was rejected straight off the bat by the Championship club.
But our sources have been told the Belgian Pro League outfit are undeterred and are on the verge of submitting a second proposal, with the fee upped to around the €2million mark.
Sources in the Potteries say the figure will not tempt Stoke to part with the full-back.
The 26-year-old is currently out injured as Stoke boss Mark Robins endures an injury crisis in the potion with first-choice Aaron Cresswell also sidelined alongside stand-in Ben Gibson.
But that has not stopped interest in Bocat, who is expected to return shortly, intensifying in recent days.
There has been two separate approaches, one from an unnamed German side, whilst Championship clubs have enquired over Stoke’s readiness to sell.
It is our understanding Robins wants to keep the player in the building, at least until the end of the season asa he tries to plot their long-awaited Premier League return this term.
Proven in Belgium
The Frenchman moved to Stoke in 2024 for around £2million including add-ons and has made 40 Championship appearances for the club.
Primarily a starter during his first season at the club, Bocat has made just ten Championship appearances so far this season leading to teams trying to prise him away from the club.
He has impressed in Belgium before during spells at Mouscron and Sint-Truiden which has lead to Liege’s interest.
Towards the end of last year, Stoke were also linked with a sensational loan return for Sheffield United striker Tom Cannon, but the Republic of Ireland international’s form has picked up in recent weeks, with Chris Wilder keen to keep him, not least after Cannon scored against the Potters in December.
Shane is an experienced sports journalist with over a decade on the front line, covering everything from football to horse racing. A familiar face in the snooker pressroom, his work regularly appears in the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star, alongside SportsBoom.
While snooker is where many readers know him best, cricket is his true sporting passion, though he tends to keep that side of him separate from his professional beat.
A staunch traditionalist, he’s unlikely to share your enthusiasm if you believe The Hundred is the future of Test cricket.