Stoke City is on the verge of finalizing the acquisition of Sam Gallagher from Blackburn Rovers after reaching an agreement on the transfer fee. The Telegraph’s John Percy reports that Stoke has settled on a fee of approximately £1.5 million for the striker, enhancing their attacking options for the upcoming season.
Initially, Stoke had proposed a bid of £800,000 for Gallagher, who has just one year remaining on his current contract. Blackburn, however, set a specific seven-figure asking price. With the fee now agreed upon, Gallagher is set to make the move to the bet365 Stadium, subject to passing a medical examination.
Last season, Gallagher made 24 league appearances, scoring three goals and providing three assists as Blackburn finished 19th. His move to Stoke represents a new chapter, as he prepares to leave Ewood Park after joining Blackburn in 2019. Despite struggling with injuries that limited his game time last season, Gallagher’s most productive period came during the 2021-22 season when he netted nine goals.
The forward’s impending transfer follows speculation during the January window, when Ipswich Town reportedly made an offer. Gallagher stayed with Blackburn, aiding their fight against relegation. Ipswich, meanwhile, secured promotion to the Premier League and signed Ali Al-Hamadi and Kieffer Moore.
Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher is expected to rely on Gallagher to boost the team’s attacking prowess. This transfer window is crucial for Schumacher as he works with new technical director Jonathan Walters to shape the squad. Stoke has already signed several players, including Eric-Junior Bocat, Viktor Johansson, Ben Gibson, and Wiktor Gromek.
For Blackburn, the £1.5 million fee represents a modest return, especially given that they were close to a £2 million deal for Gallagher last January. The club’s decision to let his contract near its end has impacted the transfer value. Despite this, Stoke is acquiring a solid Championship-level attacker at a reasonable price, and Blackburn can reinvest the funds into strengthening their squad.
