Badou Ndiaye will not play for Stoke again, the midfielder's agent has reportedly claimed.

Ndiaye, who only joined Stoke from Galatasaray for £14million in January 2018, re-joined the Turkish giants on a season long loan deal in August, following The Potters' relegation from the Premier League, and is now apparently keen to stay there permanently.

According to The Stoke Sentinel, Ndiaye's agent, William D'Avila has told Turkish radio station Radyospor: "Ndiaye wants to win the title this season with Galatasaray. One thing for certain is that he will not return to Stoke City at the end of the season. He loves Galatasaray and it's a place that he always loves."

Despite Ndiaye's wishes, it appears he may find himself back at the Bet365 at the end of the season; his Stoke contract does not expire until 2022, and Galatasaray are not thought to be able or willing to pay the midfielder's expected asking price.

Ndiaye has made 25 appearances in all competitions for the Turkish side this season, and his hopes of winning the title with them may also be scuppered, as Galatasaray sit six points off league leaders Istanbul Basaksehir with just eight games of the season remaining.

The verdict

With Ndiaye supposedly not willing to return to Stoke and Galatasaray unable to keep him there, this appears to have all the makings of a very messy saga.

While there is a sense Stoke's lineup needs something of an overhaul next season, you feel Ndiaye shouldn't be part of it: a player on the pitch or even at the training ground will not help a mood that already needs lifting, and any funds that Stoke get for him - from Galatasaray or someone else - could be well used in the summer transfer window.