Stoke working 'round the clock' on deals - Robins

Mark Robins signed a three-and-a-half year contract to become Stoke manager on New Year's Day 2025

Stoke City manager Mark Robins says the club's recruitment team is "working round the clock" to bring in more signings ahead of the new Championship season.

The Potters, who finished a turbulent 2024-25 campaign two points above the relegation zone in 18th place, have brought in three new players so far this summer.

Wales winger Sorba Thomas, Ukraine defender Maksym Talovierov and Manchester City loanee Divin Mubama have been added to Robins' squad with the hope that more are to follow soon.

Robins said sporting director Jon Walters and owner-chairman John Coates are scouring the transfer market constantly.

"It's been all hands to the pump and they've been working round the clock to find solutions to the spaces we've still got," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"It won't be wholesale [changes] because we've got to do things in an incremental way."

The Potters boss added all three recruits were "really good, quality signings" who "will do well for us now and in the future".

Thomas was the first through the door early last month, signing a three-year contract from Huddersfield.

"I tried to get him in January but it was impossible to do," Robins said.

"It would've been good [to have had him then] because it could've bedded him in.

"He wants to work really hard for the team and is someone who has really good qualities and will be a very good addition."

Centre-back Talovierov arrived on a three-year deal from Plymouth and can be "as good as he wants to be" according to Robins.

"Speaking to him, you get the feeling he's so driven and, at 25, he's a really good age.

"His work ethic is impressive and I'm delighted to get him. He stands out as a real leader, he's not the finished article and he knows that and he's got areas to work on and we'll work with him to make sure that happens."

Mubama 'a dream to have'

Mubama will be at Stoke for the season on loan from Manchester City having joined them on a long-term contract from West Ham.

The 20-year-old broke into the Hammers first-team under then boss David Moyes making 18 appearances - including eight in the Premier League - and scoring one goal.

"There is a player there that's untried but to have a break in and break out season in the Premier League is really difficult to do, especially when you're at certain clubs that have to get certain results," Robins said.

"Man City are a massive club and have a lot of history behind them now in terms of winning. He's signed a five-year contract there so he's got plenty of time to try to come through.

"He's got raw talent and has a lot of attributes that will suit us - he's a dream to have."

Divin Mubama scored his first goal for Manchester City in the 8-0 win over Salford City in the FA Cup in January

Stoke begin their latest attempt to challenge for promotion back to the Premier League against Derby County on 9 August and Robins is targeting a much-improved campaign this term.

"We've got to hope we can get big, big improvements quickly. For me, the quicker the better, but there's still a lot of work to do," he said.

"It shouldn't be 'we're going to go right there' but the expectation should be that we're going to improve and they [the fans] will be able to see that.

"We're trying to sign people who are going to make their mark on our supporters and the demands they place on us as custodians of their club. It's exciting."