Stoke City have unveiled their first signing this week and it is clear that supporters expect it to be the first of many.

Our annual Keep or Sell survey showed that only five current senior players have the backing of more than 80 percent of supporters for Alex Neil to build his team around. Josh Laurent (97 percent of votes to keep) and Ben Wilmot (96) lead the way, followed by Jacob Brown (87), Connor Taylor (84), and Josh Tymon (82).

Tyrese Campbell (77) isn’t too far behind either and Tom Edwards, back at his boyhood club after the best part of three years out on loan, is well-backed too with 73 percent.

But there is debate among the fanbase about the future of the rest of the changing room and just how much work is needed to do to make Stoke competitive in the Championship.

D’Margio Wright-Phillips (67) is hoping to stake his claim in pre-season after returning from a loan spell at Northampton Town while Blondy Nna Noukeu (59) and Jack Bonham (58) are expected to be back-up keepers this season – behind a number one who is yet to be signed.

The stock of Lewis Baker (54) has fallen dramatically in the 12 months since he was rewarded for his exceptional goal return with a new contract and the captain’s armband. The midfielder was no longer an automatic starter after the January transfer window but his strike rate from midfield is still one of the best in the division.

Jordan Thompson (51) has not been able to hold down a regular starting place in midfield and can expect competition to increase over the next few weeks as new faces start to arrive.

And the verdict is clear on Dwight Gayle (24), who has his work cut out to turn around his fortunes at Stoke after a dispiriting debut campaign. The 33-year-old striker, previously so prolific at this level, scored three times in 37 appearances and it remains to be seen how much Neil will rely on him in the coming months.