Yahoo News Steven Schumacher and Jon Walters put major stamp on Stoke City with transfer checklist
Stoke had a few targets when they set out at the start of the summer transfer window.
A goalkeeper of their own, a left-back to be genuine competition to Enda Stevens, an experienced centre-half, a reworked midfield department and a revamped attack led by the signing of a quick number nine.
Gradually, Jon Walters, in his first window as sporting director, has been ticking them off, with Steven Schumacher getting through hundreds of Zoom calls trying to sell Stoke as the club to be at for up and coming talents.
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Ten signings in all, with late departures also important to keep a handle on a squad which was just too big last season. There needs to be a pathway for a group of teenagers bursting onto the first team scene, currently led by Sol Sidibe, Emre Tezgel and Jaden Dixon.
In fact it is a young changing room all round now, with Ben Gibson - that experienced centre-half - and Enda Stevens the only players in their 30s (as well as back-up keeper Frank Fielding).
There are four loanees but through each department there are Stoke players in the right halves of their careers, seemingly and hopefully on their way up.
There will be some who have good and bad days and will need to be well coached but it is exciting that the front department is packed with pace and skill.
That win on Tuesday night was against a below-par and much-changed Middlesbrough side but Stoke played with freedom, no fear and as a collective. That is the way Schumacher wants to play week in, week out. Hopefully he has the changing room now to take a big step towards that over the next few weeks and months.
Stoke City squad
GK : Viktor Johansson, Jack Bonham, Frank Fielding
RB: Junior Tchamadeu
LB: Eric Bocat, Enda Stevens
CB: Ben Gibson, Ben Wilmot, Ash Phillips, Michael Rose, Jaden Dixon, Freddie Anderson
CM : Wouter Burger, Andrew Moran, Sol Sidibe, Bosun Lawal, Tatsuki Seko, Jordan Thompson, Ben Pearson
RW: Million Manhoef
LW: Bae Junho, Lynden Gooch, Andre Vidigal, Lewis Koumas
CF: Tom Cannon, Niall Ennis, Ryan Mmaee, Sam Gallagher, Emre Tezgel
