Stoke City Continues to Monitor the Transfer Market to Strengthen the Team's Offense

At this point in the season, Stoke City has already played two official matches in the EFL Championship, securing one victory and suffering one defeat. Unfortunately, Steve Schumacher's side was defeated in a challenging 3-0 away match against Watford, where they had hoped to achieve a positive result but were thoroughly dominated by The Potters.

However, the transfer window remains open, and Stoke City continues to explore various options to strengthen their squad, particularly in the forward position, as Sam Gallagher's injury has caused significant disruption to the team.

READ MORE: Tough Visit in the EFL Championship | Watford 3-0 Stoke City

A Race Between Several Teams for This Fulham Player

During this transfer window, Fulham striker Jay Stansfield appears to be available for sale by the Premier League side, and he has become one of the most sought-after players in the market. Stoke City's interest in the player has significantly increased.

However, several teams are competing for this player, and it has been revealed that his market value is set at £6 million. Teams such as Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, and possibly Stoke City are reportedly vying for his signature.

Stoke City's interest in Stansfield had been mentioned earlier, but Fulham has now set a price for him in this transfer window, which seems to be higher than what the EFL Championship teams were expecting. As a result, it is anticipated that Stansfield may be more likely to move on a loan deal rather than a permanent transfer.

Last season, Stansfield had an excellent loan spell at Birmingham City, where he played 43 matches in the EFL Championship, scoring 12 goals and providing 2 assists, showcasing the immense potential of this 21-year-old striker.

Stoke City would likely prefer a loan deal rather than a permanent signing while Sam Gallagher recovers, as bringing in a new forward could lead to an overcrowding of players in this position, which would not be beneficial in the long term. Several young players are emerging from the club's youth ranks, and there are others already in line to compete for a place in Steve Schumacher's starting lineup.