Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill will be looking to add to his squad during the transfer window, as he looks to strengthen key positions to help him guide the club to safety this season.

One position that the Potters could be in need of adding to is in midfield, with the Potters having already allowed both Badou Ndiaye and Peter Etebo to leave the club on loan until the end of the season to Trabzonspor and Getafe this month.

Stoke are now being linked with a move for Shrewsbury Town midfielder Josh Laurent, with the 24-year-old having been in impressive form in League One so far scoring two and assisting two from the middles of the pitch in 20 league appearances so far this campaign.

Here then, we take a look at TWO potential knock on effects at Stoke if they were to sign Laurent…

Could spell the end for Joe Allen

Stoke have already allowed Ndiaye and Etebo to leave the club this month, so would likely be reluctant to allow any more midfielders leave without bringing in some reinforcements in the middle of the pitch first, which means that Laurent signing could prove key for the future of the Welshman.

West Ham are being linked with a move for Allen this month, and the midfielder could be tempted with a move back to the Premier League, having re-found his form since O’Neill took over from Nathan Jones, helping the Potters improve their ability to pick up points more consistently of late.

Laurent could be able to come into the side and do a similar type of job that Allen has been doing, with the 24-year-old able to get forwards late in support of attacks, and also having the ability to sit in and protect the back four at times when needed, which would make him an ideal potential replacement.

Can you name Stoke City’s last 15 managers?

Ryan Woods moving further down the pecking order

One player who was given a fresh chance to re-establish himself as a key player for the Potters when O’Neill took charge was Woods, with the midfielder having been largely frozen out under Jones, but he started first five Championship matches of the Northern Irishman’s tenure.

However, following poor performances in three successive defeats against Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers and Hull City Woods was dropped in favour of Jordan Cousins for the Potters’ 3-0 win against Luton Town, and the midfielder has yet to feature in the league since, though he did start at Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend.

Were Stoke to sign Laurent it would likely only push Woods further down the midfield pecking order at Stoke, and make it even more challenging for him to win back his place in the starting line-up during the second half of the campaign.