Stoke City is preparing to say goodbye to midfielder Josh Laurent as he secures a deal with Championship foes Burnley. Serving as last season’s captain, Laurent has been a key figure in the Stoke squad during his two-year tenure with the club, having transferred from Reading in 2022.

By inking a three-year contract upon his arrival, Laurent, previously with Shrewsbury Town, finds himself heading into the final year of his deal at Stoke. Despite attracting interest from various clubs this summer, Laurent has continued to feature prominently under Steven Schumacher in the new season. Although he remained on the bench in Stoke’s recent EFL Cup triumph over Middlesbrough, he has played every minute in the league fixtures against Coventry City, Watford, and West Brom.

The Telegraph reports that Laurent’s move to Turf Moor has now been confirmed. Burnley, seeking reinforcements, have faced challenges like using Luke McNally as a makeshift forward and including three goalkeepers on the bench in their previous loss to Sunderland. Notable departures from Burnley this month include midfielders Sander Berge and Scott Twine, along with transfers of Dara O’Shea, Anass Zaroury, Wilson Odobert, and Arijanet Muric, orchestrated by Scott Parker.

Meanwhile, Stoke has welcomed eight new signings into Schumacher’s squad with a possibility for further additions before the transfer deadline on Friday at 11 pm. With players like the recent acquisition Sam Gallagher waiting to return from injuries, the team’s dynamic is expected to evolve as the season progresses.