As they continue to fight for their place in the Championship, Stoke City have reportedly sent scouts to watch a young striker in action ahead of a potential summer swoop.
Stoke transfer news
The Potters are walking a fine line in England’s second tier, sitting just six points clear of the dropzone albeit with one game in hand on the bottom three. Recent form does at least make for positive reading, however, with a 3-1 victory over fellow strugglers Swansea City last time out giving them some much-needed breathing room.
Up against Norwich City this weekend in what was once a Premier League fixture, Mark Robins will be desperate to see his side once again pick up all three points and take another key step towards safety.
Meanwhile, those at the Bet365 Stadium have also seemingly commenced their search for summer reinforcements. In what will be their first full season with Robins in charge, they’ll hope to see the former Coventry City boss take Stoke back into the top half and may even hand him a future star in pursuit of that.
According to the East Anglian Daily Times, Stoke have now sent scouts to watch Charlie Warren and are among a handful of EFL clubs now plotting a move to sign the Felixtowe & Walton forward.
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Still just 20 years old, Warren has been one of the standout players in the Isthmian League North Division so far this season – scoring 27 goals in all competitions and taking his side top of the league on goal difference.
Now, thanks to his form, he could swap the fourth step of non-league football for the chance to play in the Championship if Stoke come calling.
“Great” Warren could make sensational leap
We’ve seen the likes of Ollie Tanner make the jump from non-league football to the Championship in recent years to great success, swapping Lewes for Cardiff City last summer. Now, Warren could become the latest to make a sensational, but deserved leap into the EFL.
When asked about the interest in his forward, Felixtowe & Walton manager Stuart Boardley was full of praise for Warren – telling reporters: “Charlie’s had a lot of interest from various EFL clubs. He’s under contract with us, but we won’t stand in the way of him fulfilling his potential.
He’s really good technically and physically very able. He’s turned into a man over the past couple of years and this season has been his big break out. He’s been incredible for us, is a great lad and, even though we’ve not received any concrete offers yet, we’re resigned to losing him.
“I’ve got no doubt he’ll go on to have a good professional career. My only surprise is that none of the local clubs – Ipswich, Colchester, Norwich, Cambridge – haven’t had a look.”
Whether it’s at Stoke or elsewhere, Warren looks destined to complete quite the step from non-league all the way to the EFL this summer.