It’s been a standard season for Stoke fans in the Transfer Tavern, who have surely seen their side secure their regular mid-season spot with around nine games left in the Premier League season.

With just Liverpool and Arsenal left to play out of the top six, our landlord believes mid-table is the absolute minimum for the Potters, but believes Mark Hughes would have been looking for a further improvement from last season which saw them finish ninth after amassing 51 points.

It’s fair to say that goals have been the issue this time around and although, Wilfried Bony, Peter Crouch and Saido Berahino have all been asked to carry the mantel and take responsibility for the goalscoring at the Bet365 stadium – the Potters fans in the Tavern cannot wait for the summer where they expect their boss, Hughes, to sign a striker.

With that said, these last 9 games are a massive chance for players in the current Potters squad to make a claim to be in Mark Hughes’ plans for next season, and with not much left to play for in the league, our landlord believes that Mark Hughes will be looking to make a decision on some of his Stoke squad.

Here are THREE players Hughes must simply make a big decision on…

KEEP: Erik Pieters

With reports emerging that Stoke are one club interested in Manchester United left back, Luke Shaw, could Hughes be thinking about getting rid of loyal servant, Erik Pieters?

The Dutchman is a fan favourite in the Transfer Tavern, and our landlord believes that it would be crazy for the Potters to get rid of their long serving left back.

KEEP: Peter Crouch

The 6 foot, 7 inches giant isn’t getting any younger but our landlord believes that Mark Hughes’ decision to let Crouch move on from the bet365 Stadium won’t be helped by the lack of goals his side has scored this season.

Although 36 years of age, Crouch offers an alternative option for Stoke in which he can be effective and our resident Potters in the Tavern are reluctant to get rid of their plan B.

AXE: Charlie Adam

Adam saw utility player, Geoff Cameron, start ahead of him in the centre of Stoke’s midfield during their 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last weekend, and our landlord believes this to be a sign that the end is nigh for the Scottish international and his career with the Potters.

There is no doubt that our resident Stoke fans have been vocally critical in the Tavern about Adam’s performances for their club earlier in the season, and it looks like he may well be on his way come the Summer transfer window.