Hughes admits Stoke’s record signing could leave in the summer

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has revealed that Giannelli Imbula could leave the Bet365 Stadium at the end of the season. 

The Belgium-born France U21 international moved to Stoke in February 2016 from Porto for a club-record £20m and made an immediate impact under Hughes. 

However, the 24-year-old has started just nine Premier League matches this season and has made just three competitive appearances in 2017. 

And now Hughes has admitted that Imbula could depart Stoke in the summer. 

"It's fair to say it hasn't quite worked out as any of us would have wanted. It's fair to say if there was interest in Giannelli from other parties, then maybe we'd consider that," Hughes is quoted as saying by Sky Sports ahead of Stoke’s welcome of Arsenal on Saturday. 

"Obviously, it would have to be suitable for ourselves and the player himself. We haven't had any interest - only speculation. 

"The Premier League is a different league. He's probably struggled with that, and he hasn't developed as much as we - and he - would have liked." 

Despite a lack of game time since his arrival, only Marko Arnautovic (121) has completed more dribbles than Imbula (82) of all Stoke players since the start of the 2015/16 Premier League season.

For more stats on Giannelli Imbula, click here to view his WhoScored player page