Stoke City need to sign a new attacking midfielder during the final month of the summer transfer window, there is no doubt about it. The Potters have strength in most other areas of the pitch apart from the position just behind the striker.

Bae Jun-ho, who missed the final two pre-season matches, is their main creative outlet and is usually used as the no.10. The South Korean enjoyed a memorable first season at the bet365 Stadium, winning the club’s Player of the Season award after impressing. He ended the campaign on two goals and six assists in 40 games.

But when Bae is not available or at his best, Stoke have got little craft and guile in their armoury. It was clear to see last term and it has been displayed again in pre-season. During the 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar on Saturday afternoon, Stoke were toothless for the most part and needed someone in the pocket to create something.

A midfield three of Jordan Thompson, Wouter Burger and Josh Laurent is robust and not a bad combination, but it does feel like there has to be someone in there with a bit more cuteness and creativity about their game. Daniel Johnson and Lewis Baker are good squad options, but are either of them going to open up a door when a game is tight at home, for example? I don’t think so.

If you look at most of the teams who are going to be competing near the top of the table – and even at the bottom – they have options in the attacking midfield area. Look at Norwich, for example. There isn’t much of a different between them and Stoke in terms of position by position across the pitch, but one thing that the Canaries have over them is different makers in attacking midfield. As shown by Leicester, Ipswich, Leeds and Southampton, especially last season, that can be the difference.

Steven Schumacher should be trying his best now to convince the hierarchy at Stoke to target a new attack-minded midfielder. The Potters scored just 49 goals last season – the fourth-worst in the division and finding a No.10 who can score more goals is important. Only Andre Vidigal (seven) netted more than four times for the Potters last season, with Wouter Burger, Ki-Jana Hoever, Ryan Mmaee, Tyrese Campbell and Million Manhoef joint-second. That is a pretty damning total and Stoke must improve in that regard.