The Potters have not finished in the top-half of the Championship since relegation in 2018, but are seeking to change that with numerous new additions throughout the summer that should improve the squad this season.
The likes of Viktor Johansson, Ben Gibson and Bosun Lawal all joined the club, while Stoke explored the Premier League loan market with Lewis Koumas, Ashley Phillips and Tom Cannon all arriving from Liverpool, Spurs and Leicester City respectively.
Schumacher also moved to bring in Andrew Moran from Brighton to fill a gap as the most advanced midfielder in his system, and failed to land former Wolves loanee Luke Cundle, but while Moran has started well with the Potters this season, he could very possibly see his minutes limited come January after fresh reports around Stoke’s second pursuit of Cundle recently emerged.
Cundle began last season on loan at Plymouth Argyle under Schumacher, but had his spell with the Greens cut short in January to move to Stoke for the final months of the season, after he had been identified as a top target by the Liverpool-born boss who had made the same switch just a month earlier.
The 22-year-old had a quiet start to life in North Staffordshire, but soon became a key player in the season’s run-in as Stoke crucially avoided the Championship drop, thanks, in part, to his two goals and two assists in the final four league games.
Stoke were constantly linked to his signature throughout the summer, with his minutes set to be limited in the top-flight with Wolves, but a permanent deal never materialised, despite reportedly being close, and he has remained at the Molineux club past the deadline.
Prior to the week of the deadline, Stoke had seemingly decided to move onto other targets in case a move for Cundle did not happen, and it was a smart move, in hindsight, to wrap up a deal for Brighton youngster Moran on August 16, with his talents clear after an impressive temporary stint at Blackburn Rovers last season.