Stoke City have emerged as contenders to land Sheffield United wing-back George Baldock, according to the The Sun.

The Potters were reportedly keen on landing Luton Town defender Jack Stacey before he joined Bournemouth, and Nathan Jones has now turned his attention to promotion-winning defender Baldock.

However, Stoke are also facing competition for his signature with Celtic also interested in Baldock after his impressive campaign at Bramall Lane last term.

The 26-year-old was a regular feature in Chris Wilder's side as the Blades secured promotion to the Premier League, but he is currently thought to be available for around £1.5million.

So is Baldock worthy of this interest from the Potters? We take a closer look...

Baldock did not feature much in the first half of the season, but he established himself on Wilder's right flank during the second half of the campaign to make a total of 27 appearances. As an attack-minded defender, Baldock made contributions to United's attacking outlay over the course of the season by scoring one goal and registering two assists.

But operating in the right wing-back role, Baldock was needed in the Blades' attacking and defensive efforts. He averaged an impressive 1.8 tackles per game, which very much reflects his ability to assist at the back when needed. He also won an average of 1.2 aerial duels per game, and this is an impressive statistic considering he stands at 5ft 8in tall. Baldock fits the Wilder mould of player, in that he is totally committed to the cause and plays to his maximum ability.

In terms of ball possession, Baldock recorded an average of 30.8 passes per match and made a 77.3% pass completion rate. As he operates out wide, it is to be expected that he makes less passes than those playing more centrally, but Baldock will be looking to further improve that pass completion rate next season.

Baldock would be an excellent signing for Stoke if the Potters are able to strike a deal. His performances last season prove his ability to perform at a strong level in the Championship, while his statistics also back this up.

However, I think Jones will find it difficult to lure Baldock away from the Blades. Wilder will surely want to keep hold of a player who became increasingly important to him last term, while Baldock must also be hoping to get his chance in the Premier League at Bramall Lane next season.