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Bright future ahead – Stoke City handing a new deal to this promising 20-year-old is a fantastic move and here’s why

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Why Stoke City have struck gold with a new deal for Tom Edwards

According to The Sentinel, Stoke City starlet Tom Edwards has committed his long-term future to the Potters by putting pen to paper on a new four-and-a-half-year deal until the summer of 2024. 

The 20-year-old right-back had a contract at the bet 365 Stadium until 2021 but Stoke City were quick to tie him down to a brand new deal with fresh and improved terms. 

Edwards, who joined the Potters at the age of nine and rose through the youth ranks before making his senior professional bow in the Premier League in the 2017-18 campaign, is held in high regard at his boyhood club and his fresh contract comes as a mark of recognition of his rapid progress in recent years. 

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The highly-rated academy graduate was one of the few players to come away with some credit in the previous campaign, as Stoke City managed a disappointing 16th-place finish in the Championship following their relegation from the top-flight. 

And Edwards has once again been one of the brightest sparks in what has been yet another nightmarish start to the season for the Potters.

Despite Nathan Jones’ men struggling at the bottom of the table after managing only two victories from 13 rounds of Championship football, the youngster has more than held his own to give the fans something to cheer about. 

The England U-20 international, who earned rave reviews for his consistently impressive performances and made a total of 27 appearances for the Potters in the Championship last season, has continued in his role as one the mainstays of the club’s backline this term as well, with the talented youngster already boasting of 8 league starts. 

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Nathan Jones looked all set for an early sack after the Potters failed to win any of their first ten league games but crucial victories against Swansea City and Fulham in recent weeks have provided the manager with some breathing space. 

However, his future at the bet 365 Stadium is far from secure, with Stoke struggling at the wrong end of the table and the management might eventually run out of patience if the desired level of consistency isn’t achieved in the coming months.  

Tom Edwards, though, never deserved to have any speculation over his future at Stoke City, and the news of his long-term contract is likely to receive a warm round of applause from the fans. 

Having been tipped for stardom ever since his days in the club’s academy, the 20-year-old has already taken significant strides towards fulfilling his vast potential and he certainly has a big future ahead of him. 

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Verdict

The right-back is hardly a finished article just yet but he has shown that he is more than good enough to play regularly in the Championship and the new contract should go a long way towards helping the Potters shield him from Premier League interest. 

As per whoscored, Edwards averages 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 2.8 clearances, 1.8 key passes, 2.1 crosses and 5.1 successful long balls per game in the Championship this term, figures which lie testament to his rapid evolution into a fine modern-day full-back.

The fans will be hoping for the club to continue their contract renewal drive and secure the long-term future of Tyrese Campbell, who is currently playing in the first-team and is also regarded as a player with serious potential. 

All in all, Stoke City’s move to tie Tom Edwards down to a long-term deal makes perfect sense for a number of reasons moving forward.