Former West Bromwich Albion and Southampton centre-forward Jay Rodriguez could be set for a return to the Championship this summer as his contract with Burnley expires at the end of the current campaign.
The experienced frontman re-joined the Clarets back in 2019 and has been with his boyhood club ever since, helping the side earn promotion back to the Premier League last season under Vincent Kompany. This term, though, the 34-year-old has bagged merely two goals in 23 appearances, having become a bit-part player at Turf Moor.
Jay Rodriguez scoring the 12th and 15th fastest goals in Premier League history 10 years and one day apart 📅 pic.twitter.com/HQn8bESIIR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 3, 2023
However, Burnley look set for an instant relegation back to the Championship, and with the ex-England international turning 35 in July, it seems unlikely that the club will hand him another contract extension.
According to a new report from TeamTalk, Rodriguez will be a free agent in the summer which has piqued the interest of Stoke City, who are battling it out for survival in the bottom half of the second-tier table. The outlet are claiming that the Potters believe he could be a valuable addition to the squad ahead of their pre-season tour.
Rodriguez has proven himself as a prolific goalscorer in the Championship across his two stints with Burnley and his time with West Bromwich Albion. The veteran has bagged 64 goals and recorded 21 assists in 184 appearances in the division below the Premier League.
Stoke have struggled for goals across the 2023/24 campaign. Playmaker Andre Vidigal is the club’s top scorer, having bagged seven goals all season. Furthermore, only three teams have scored fewer goals than Steven Schumacher’s men this term. Perhaps Rodriguez can help fix this next season.
Writer’s View
Rodriguez is a player with lots of experience and knows how to find the net in the Championship, as shown by his time at West Bromwich Albion and Burnley. While it will certainly be a short-term signing, Stoke could do a lot worse than bringing him in on a 12-month contract.
The biggest factor behind this deal coming to fruition or not is whether the Potters are still in the league next season as Schumacher’s men currently sit three points above the relegation zone. Rodriguez won’t want to sign for a League One outfit.
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