Town’s Ince set for £10m switch to spearhead Stoke’s promotion bid
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN winger Tom Ince was last night on the verge of joining Stoke City in a £10m deal that will represent a club record sale for the Premier League club.
The 26-year-old travelled to the Potteries over the weekend to undergo a medical and discuss terms after a fee was agreed between the Terriers and the Championship side.
No late hold-ups are expected meaning Ince’s departure after just a season is likely to be confirmed today. His debut could come against Leeds United on Sunday, August 5.
The deal will shatter Huddersfield’s previous club record sale, the £8m exit of Jordan Rhodes to Blackburn Rovers in August, 2012.
Ince’s fee represents a healthy profit on the £7.25m paid to Derby County a year ago. Head coach David Wagner is expected to be handed the proceeds as Town look to strengthen further ahead of the transfer window closing on August 9.
Town have brought in five new faces this summer, Adama Diakhaby the latest to arrive in an £8m deal from Monaco.
He joined Erik Durm, Ramadan Sobhi, Ben Hamer and Juninho Bacuna in a squad that also includes Jonas Lossl, Florent Hadergjonaj and Terence Kongolo after the trio sealed permanent switches to the West Riding following successful loan spells last season.
Wagner wants more additions, though it is understood the speculation surrounding a possible move for Belgian winger Anthony Limbombe is wide of the mark. Middlesbrough’s Adam Traore is another to have been strongly linked.
Tareiq Homes-Dennis, meanwhile, last night joined Bristol Rovers on a permanent deal. He joined Portsmouth on a season-long loan in 2017-18, but was injured after one game.
As for Ince, the impending move will bring a reunion with Gary Rowett at Stoke. The pair worked together at Derby before the former Hull City winger’s switch to Huddersfield.
Rowett sees Ince, who made 33 league appearances for the Terriers last term, as the man to lead the push for an instant return to the top flight.
He will join one-time Huddersfield loanee Benik Afobe, Oghenekaro Etebo, Adam Federici and James McClean on the roster of summer signings at the Bet365 Stadium.