Stoke City boss gives transfer update and explains absences after thrashing Middlesbrough
Transfer news from Stoke City heading into deadline day
Steven Schumacher laughed when it was suggested it might be a good time to bump into his chairman to ask for a favour or two following a fine win for Stoke City at Middlesbrough – but he insists everyone knows what is needed in the final couple of days before the transfer deadline.
Stoke have brought in eight signings so far this summer and are in the market for more before 11pm on Friday, with a striker at the top of their agenda but not the only item.
“John (Coates) and Jon Walters and the recruitment team know what we’re trying to do,” said the head coach after a 5-0 win at the Riverside. “I’m still on at them every day! I still think that we need to strengthen the squad and they understand that too. We’re all on the same page. We want to make ourselves better and competitive in this league because it’s so hard week in, week out. We have to make sure we are ready to compete.”
There will be exits too and it was telling that Lewis Baker, Daniel Johnson and Andre Vidigal were left out of the squad for this Carabao Cup tie when they might have normally expected to pick up some minutes. Their place in the pecking order is clear in the last couple of days of the window.
Schumacher said: “Jordan Thompson has had a little niggle so he wasn’t available. DJ and Bakes and Andre Vidigal left out of the squad.”
Stoke had lost 2-1 to West Brom on Saturday and now prepare for a trip to Plymouth this weekend, hoping that confidence has been lifted but not getting carried away with themselves.
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