Stansfield joins: 2 signings Stoke City should try to make before Coventry City match on August 10

Stoke City need to make some smart transfer decisions in the coming weeks to give them the best chance of pushing up the table next season under Steven Schumacher.

Transfer business at the bet365 Stadium has been somewhat slow throughout the summer, but the Potters have signed goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, centre-back Ben Gibson, full-back Eric Bocat and striker Sam Gallagher from Rotherham United, Norwich City, Sint-Truiden and Blackburn Rovers respectively so far this summer, and are set to be busy in the transfer market before the window slams shut as Schumacher shapes his squad ahead of the new campaign.

Ahead of the former Plymouth Argyle boss’ first summer transfer window, he allowed the likes of Tyrese Campbell, Ciaran Clark, Wesley, Tom Edwards and D’Margio Wright-Phillips all to depart upon the expiry of their contracts, while Matthew Baker and David Okagbue have since rejoined Newport County and Walsall on respective permanent deals, and young goalkeeper Tommy Simkin has also joined the Saddlers on a season-long loan.

Schumacher and co. still have a lot of work to do in this summer window in terms of incomings and outgoings, and with that said, these are two deals that the Potters should try to complete before they take on Coventry City on the opening weekend of the Championship season on August 10.

It is no secret that Stoke are aiming to bolster their attack in the transfer market this summer, and Fulham’s Jay Stansfield would be the ideal addition to Schumacher’s forward line to help propel the Potters up the division in the new season.

The boss has already allowed Tyrese Campbell and Wesley to leave the club this summer, and has added to his frontline with Sam Gallagher arriving from Blackburn, but it is widely believed that Stoke will aim to bring in another, more clinical forward before the window is shut.

There needs to be an improvement on Stoke’s poor record in front of goal last season – the Potters were the Championship’s sixth-lowest scorers in 2023/24, and their highest-scoring centre-forwards in the league were Ryan Mmaee, who is currently injured, and Campbell, who has now left the club, with just three goals each – winger Andre Vidigal was the club’s top scorer, with six.

Stansfield proved himself as a capable second-tier scorer last campaign on loan at Birmingham City, as he netted 12 goals in 43 games and was one of the Blues’ best players, despite relegation, but he faces an uncertain future this summer with a breakthrough into parent club Fulham’s first-team looking unlikely just yet.