Steven Schumacher’s Transfer Vision: Reinforcing Stoke City for January and Beyond
As the January transfer window looms on the horizon, Stoke City’s new head coach, Steven Schumacher, is actively assessing areas within the squad that require reinforcement. Having swiftly navigated three matches in a week, securing five points, including a recent draw with 10-man Watford, Schumacher is keenly aware of the team’s needs.
Expressing a desire to enhance squad fitness to match his preferred tempo, Schumacher pinpointed specific areas for improvement. “Definitely, yeah,” he affirmed, emphasizing the identification of players and positions requiring attention. Acknowledging the limited exposure to players in training due to time constraints, Schumacher highlighted January as a crucial period for strengthening the squad.
The recent match against Watford showcased Schumacher’s flexibility in deploying Jordan Thompson as an emergency left-back, showcasing the adaptability required in his inherited team. With only Jack Bonham as the solitary senior goalkeeper, addressing depth in this position may be on the transfer agenda.
The wing positions have also posed challenges, prompting speculation about potential reinforcements to bolster competition for senior center-forward Ryan Mmaee. Questions linger over the readiness of Nathan Lowe and Emre Tezgel to provide viable options.
Stoke City is set to resume action on Monday against Ipswich Town at the bet365 Stadium, presenting an opportunity for Schumacher to continue evaluating the squad and possibly implementing strategic changes ahead of the transfer window.
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