After some recent bad performance, Stoke City was expected to be busy during the January transfer window. However, Million Manhoef’s latest injury update would undoubtedly have accelerated their plans for winger additions next month, and one out-of-favor Middlesbrough player would be the perfect new addition.

Under newly hired head coach Narcis Pelach, the Potters are now experiencing one of their worst runs of play in recent memory. They have lost their previous seven games and are currently in 17th position in the Championship.

Pelach is poised to be retained on amid Stoke’s troubles, after he was only given the reins at the bet365 Stadium in September, but a new update around star player Million Manhoef’s injury woes will come as a severe blow to him, and everybody associated to the club.

The Potters must move quickly to replace right-winger Manhoef in the new year since he has suffered injury to his medial collateral ligament and will be sidelined for eight to twelve weeks during a busy December and January calendar.

Isaiah Jones, a versatile wide player for Middlesbrough, is looking to leave the Riverside Stadium in January due to his lack of opportunities in Michael Carrick’s team thus far this season, according to an exclusive report this week from Football League World. The 25-year-old will be available on loan next month and can excel in the second division if given the chance, so Stoke should make it a top priority to sign him as soon as possible during the January transfer window as they look for alternatives to the injured Manhoef.

Million Manhoef’s injury is a real setback for Stoke City

Since joining the Potters in January for £3.4 million from Dutch team Vitesse Arnhem, Manhoef has been one of the team’s standout players. This latest news will be devastating to the team and under-pressure head coach Pelach. The Netherlands under-21 international quickly rose to prominence as one of the Championship’s most exciting wingers in 2023–24, scoring four goals and dishing out an assist in 14 games and playing a crucial part in their ultimately successful attempt to avoid relegation to League One. His strong play has continued this season after attracting Leeds United’s transfer interest in the summer.

Football League World exclusively revealed last week that the Potters were receiving interest in his services from Premier League clubs ahead of the January window due to his five goals and three assists in 24 games so far this season. However, a move now seems extremely unlikely.

Keep going!After limping out of his team’s stalemate against Cardiff City last Saturday after 61 minutes, TrentLive has claimed that Manhoef will be out for at least two and a half months since new scans have shown that the injury is worse than first thought.

Although manager Pelach has referred to the 22-year-old as “a big miss,” he has also stated that his injury will present “an opportunity for other players.” Despite Manhoef’s return, Stoke has few wing options, as players like Andre Vidigal, Lewis Koumas, and Lynden Gooch can play there but are all far more suited to other positions.

Isaiah Jones would be an ideal January addition for the Potters

With Manhoef possibly out until mid-March, Stoke need to bolster their wide options in the new year with a similarly pacey, creative, strong ball-carrier, and Jones seems like a realistic capture, given recent updates surrounding his future at Boro. FLW reported earlier this week that the 25-year-old wants out of the Riverside Stadium in the new year, with his lack of game-time this season contributing to his feeling that he would be better served elsewhere.

Despite a strong 2023–24 season, Jones has fallen down Michael Carrick’s hierarchy this season. He has only started one game since September and has only appeared in three of the Teessiders’ last eight games. Jones has established himself as a quick, direct wide player who can play at either right-wing or right-wing back in previous seasons.

He is undoubtedly not going to be short of suitors in the new year, given his versatility and evident Championship quality, with the Northern Echo recently stating that second-tier clubs are monitoring his status as the January window draws increasingly closer.

Stoke would be able to offer him a real increase in game-time in the second-half of the season, if a loan move were to be sanctioned, as Pelach’s right-wing berth is absolutely up for grabs owing to Manhoef’s unavailability.

Jones was rated as the sixth-most similar player to the 22-year-old in the Championship last season by fbref, and while his qualities bear clear similarities to Manhoef, he is also a lot more versatile, and would offer a good option as a wing-back when needed, as well as a winger that tracks back and wins defensive duels, which is what the Potters need to stop conceding so many goals