According to Sky Sports, Stoke City have agreed on a £15m fee with Galatasaray for Badou Ndiaye and the rest of the details are being worked upon before an official announcement is made.
The player needs a visa to enter the UK and only then can the club apply for a work permit. And because of a slight uncertainty in that sector, Stoke are unwilling to fork out the transfer fee till it becomes certain the player will be getting a work permit.
The midfielder was left out of the Galatasaray squad last weekend in their 2-0 win over Osmanlispor, adding more fuel to the rumours of the impending move. It was reported that it was due to the distractions he was suffering because of the transfer speculations surrounding him, which forced the Lions to keep him out of the fixture.
Stoke City are placed at the 17th spot in the league table with 23 points to their name from 24 games. With just one point separating them from the 18th placed team, the Potters must enhance the quality of their performances and in order to do so, they do need a quality midfielder who could be the engine room in their currently lightweight midfield.
He has an adequate amount of experience under his belt, having plied his trade for Diambars, Bodo/Glimt, Osmanlispor in the past. He can operate effectively from the central defensive midfield as well as central midfield slots and is someone who showcases immense work-ethic.
The 27-year-old is an excellent dribbler of the ball and he gallops forward to link up with his teammates in their attacking endeavours. He is a strong player and he uses his ability of reading the game meticulously to make shrewd tackles and blocks. The Senegalese would bring some freshness into the ranks of Stoke City and given the industry he showcases, he would be a welcome addition.
Although he lacks experience of English football, he has shown that he does have the calibre and acclimatising with the rigours of the English top flight should not be an issue for him. So far this season, he has been handed 17 appearances in the Turkish Lig, during which he has scored 1 goal and notched up 3 assists. Besides, his pass completion rate of 87.6% is also quite encouraging and thus Stoke City will certainly be doing themselves no harm if they manage to get this signing over the line.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
