Stoke City close to signing versatile forward in £2.1m transfer, Mark Robins will be delighted

Add as preferred source on Google

Stoke City have already made several additions to their team this summer, but more business is set to be conducted by the Potters in the coming weeks.

This transfer window represents a real chance for Mark Robins to make the squad fit him for the challenges ahead this season.

The 55-year-old manager guided Stoke to safety last campaign, having joined halfway through the season and facing some difficulties along the way.

Now the plan is to move the team on under a full season of his stewardship, which has gotten off to an ideal start.

Stoke’s opening day win over Derby County is a good launching point for the side, but more improvement is needed.

With a lack of goals scored last season, the Potters are turning to the market to improve that once again.

• READ MORE: Jamie Donley explains what convinced him to join Stoke City despite having a ‘few teams after me’

Stoke City closing in on Lamine Cisse transfer switch

While Stoke showed signs of improvement with their display against Derby, there were still some details missing in the final third with their execution.

While the Potters scored three on the opening day, they could’ve had many more, with their goals coming from a long-range effort, a last-minute cross in the box and a counter-attack when the game was already sealed.

With that in mind, Stoke are doing some work on bringing in some more attacking options within the squad.

According to Corsematin, the Staffordshire-based club are closing in on the signing of Lamine Cisse from Bastia in Ligue 2.

It’s a deal worth in the region of £2.1 million, with rumours suggesting that RC Lens were also in the mix, but it’s Stoke who have won the race.

Cisse, 22, made the switch to Bastia from Nancy last summer, scoring nine times and assisting five goals in Ligue 2.

The forward can play anywhere across the frontline, featuring on both flanks and as a centre-forward in his career so far.

• READ MORE: Expert tips ‘technically gifted’ Stoke City target to be perfect Wouter Burger replacement

Stoke have needed an improvement in goal-scoring ranks

It’s fair to say that Robins will be delighted to see there being some proactiveness in the market from the Stoke hierarchy to get some deals done for forwards over the summer.

The arrivals of Sorba Thomas, Jamie Donley, Divin Mubama and Robert Bozenik have already bolstered those ranks.

It comes after a season where Stoke were the joint-second-lowest scorers in the Championship (45 goals), with only Hull (44) scoring fewer.

Obviously, the loss of Tom Cannon in January was dearly felt, but the need to strengthen beyond that is crystal clear.

Perhaps Cisse adds that value they’ve been missing, along with the other signings already completed.