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Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill has revealed that he has been assessing potential summer transfer targets during the Championship delay. 

The Northern Irish coach took charge at the Bet365 Stadium in November with the Potters sitting bottom of the table and has led them out of the relegation zone and up to 17th.

They're just three points above the drop zone but for the time being, their battle for survival has been put on hold.

All EFL fixtures have been suspended until at least the 30th of April, though reports have suggested the delay will go on further than that.

Stoke will have nine games to secure Championship survival once the season resumes but for the moment, it appears O'Neill is determined to make the most of the break.

He told the Stoke Sentinel: "I suppose the little break in time has been quite good for me in a way.

“From the minute I came in the door we were straight into games and never had a break at all.

"We are now starting to look at planning, looking at staff, at areas of the club where you can possibly improve. It’s a little bit futile at the minute because the landscape when we come out of this might be very different – how it looks financially for clubs and what players may or may not be available or may or may not want to stay."

Much of the Potters' summer business will likely be dictated by which division they're playing in next season but O'Neill has provided an update and revealed that work is underway.

He said: "We’re spending a lot of time – I spent a couple of hours today (Thursday) watching various players that have been recommended to us through the recruitment team – and that’s something we’ve not had a lot of time to do.

“But there’s only so much we can do to be honest because until we come through this situation we won’t know where the club stands and what we need going forward.”

Stoke have signed three players during O'Neill's tenure so far, Tashan Oakley-Boothe from Tottenham Hotspur, Jordan Thompson from Blackpool, and James Chester on a loan deal from Aston Villa.

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The Verdict

Stoke fans will surely love to hear that O'Neill is making the most of this break.

When the Championship resumes, the Potters primary focus has to be ensuring they avoid relegation but after that it will be to allow their coach to continue to sculpt his squad.

Stoke were busy in the transfer market last summer and it will be interesting to see whether they do the same this time around.