After strengthening in midfield and attack with the signings of Joe Allen and Wilfried Bony this summer, Stoke looked to shore up their defence with the capture of Bruno Martins Indi on a season-long loan from Portuguese side Porto.
Speaking to the club’s official website about the 24-year-old Dutch international, Potters boss Mark Hughes suggested the centre-back will immediately be thrust into action following his arrival on deadline day:
“We have been aware of Bruno for quite some time now, as many other clubs around Europe have been. He is a very accomplished defender who has a lot of experience at a very high level, including playing for Holland during their good run at the 2014 World Cup. He is a guy that we feel can come in and make an immediate impression, because he boasts all the attributes needed to perform at the top level of the Premier League.”
The History
While Martins Indi was born in Portugal, his family moved to Rotterdam, Holland when he was just three-year-old, and after starting out at Spartaan ’20, he joined Feyenoord’s academy at the age of 13.
He progressed all the way to the first-team, making his professional debut in a Europa League tie against Gent in August 2010, with his league debut coming against Heracles three days later.
Martins Indi gained plenty of first-team experience during the 2010/11 season, and become a regular starter the following year, playing at both centre-back and left-back.
He remained a mainstay of the Feyenoord defence over the next two seasons and, during his four years as a member of the first-team squad, racked up 102 league appearances, producing five goals and three assists.
On the back of an impressive display at the 2014 World Cup, Martins Indi moved to Porto for a fee of €7.7 million, and enjoyed a strong first season at the club, playing 24 league matches, scoring two goals – playing nearly all of his football in central defence.
He chalked up another 23 league appearances last term, again predominantly as a centre-back, and also played Champions League football for a second consecutive season.
Martins Indi chose to represent Holland at international level, and after totalling 27 appearances at Under 17, Under 19 and Under 21 levels, scoring two goals, he made his senior debut in a 4-2 defeat to Belgium in August 2012. He has played 31 times for his country, scoring twice, although he hasn’t featured since September 2015.
The Prospects
With Martins Indi having played most of his football at centre-back over the past few years, and Stoke allowing Philipp Wollscheid to join Wolfsburg on a season-long loan, it appears the Dutch international will start alongside Potters captain Ryan Shawcross in central defence.
Geoff Cameron was utilised at centre-back in the 1-0 defeat to Everton in Gameweek 3, but is likely to provide back-up in the position, along with Marc Muniesa.
Handed a valuation of 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the centre-half hasn’t boasted too much of a goal threat, scoring on six occasions over the past five seasons.
Having conceded six times in the first three Gameweeks, the joint-worst record along with Liverpool and Watford, there was clearly a need to strengthen what has been a leaky defence – particularly in the absence of the injured Jack Butland, who could be out for up to 10 weeks after undergoing ankle surgery.
Martins Indi, who possesses good strength and reasonable pace, should certainly provide an upgrade on Wollscheid and the Dutch international’s partnership with Shawcross certainly has the potential to strengthen the overall prospects for all members of the Potters backline.
That should boost the appeal of Stoke defenders as they prepare for a favourable upcoming schedule from Gameweek 5 onwards (cpl, WBA, mun, SUN, hul, SWA).
Nonetheless, whilst Martins Indi’s arrival looks promising for the Potters, his FPL cost is something of a deterrent. Instead, left-back Erik Pieters – at a price of 4.5 – is a far more budget-friendly option, whilst Glen Johnson – now down to 4.9 – should offer a greater threat down the flank once recovered from a thigh complaint.
