Stoke City set to secure loan signing of Philipp Wollscheid

Stoke City (7/4 with Coral for a top 10 finish) are set to complete the loan signing of Bayer Leverkusen and German international defender, Philipp Wollscheid, until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old centre-back has recently finished a loan spell at Mainz in the Bundesliga, having helped to keep two clean sheets in five games, but Potters manager Mark Hughes looks set to secure a deal for Leverkusen’s dominant defender next week.

Speaking of Wollscheid’s attributes, Hughes was full of admiration for his hopeful new Stoke signing.

“He has superb quality and is a very good footballer,” said Hughes. “He has moved for decent money in the past and he has played for the reigning World Champions, so he has real good pedigree.”

At 6ft 3in, Wollscheid is a strong and governing centre-back, having joined Leverkusen in 2012. He has gone on to make 51 league appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, including four in last season’s Champions League, before going out on loan.

Hughes is hopeful that a deal for the Bundesliga bruiser, who made two appearances for Germany in 2013, can be finalised before next week, after being previously linked to fellow Premier League outfits West Ham United, Southampton and Hull City.

Wollscheid would join club captain Ryan Shawcross, Robert Huth, Marc Muniesa and Mark Wilson as the Potters’ central-defensive options, with Hughes’ men aiming to break into the top half of the Premier League table as the campaign continues after the winter break.

Stoke currently lie in 11th spot in the table, and have conceded 24 league goals this campaign, with only five other teams conceding less so far. Hughes will be keen for his battling team to keep up their commanding defensive record, and by adding Wollscheid to the squad, Stoke will hope to climb further up the Premier League table while adding steel to their defence.