Glen Johnson Tells Mark Robins His Stoke City Transfer Wish

Glen Johnson Tells Mark Robins His Stoke City Transfer Wish

Former Stoke and England defender highlights the need for a proven striker to transform Potters’ fortunes

 

Former Stoke City and England defender Glen Johnson has urged manager Mark Robins to prioritise the signing of a proven goal-scoring striker this summer, believing it’s the missing piece that could finally propel the Potters up the Championship table.

 

Johnson, who made over 60 appearances for Stoke between 2015 and 2018, has seen his former club struggle for consistency in front of goal for several seasons. Speaking ahead of the summer transfer window, he made it clear that finding a reliable forward must be top of Robins’ shopping list.

 

“Stoke haven’t had that clinical striker since they got promoted back in 2008,” Johnson said. “They’ve had some talented players and decent performances, but if you want to climb this league, you need a guy who’ll get you 15 or 20 goals. That’s what they’re missing.”

 

Stoke’s ongoing striker struggles were underlined again last season. Despite a mid-season resurgence and hopes pinned on young forward Tom Cannon, the club’s top scorer ended the campaign with just 11 goals in all competitions — most of which came during his loan spell from Leicester City in the first half of the season. He was recalled in January and yet still finished as the Potters’ leading marksman, exposing just how blunt Stoke’s attack became in the second half of the campaign.

 

“Tom Cannon looked like he might be the answer, and he was doing well,” Johnson noted. “But losing him halfway through the season hurt badly. You can’t build momentum without that constant threat up top. Stoke need someone who can stay fit, lead the line, and deliver consistently.”

 

It’s now up to new manager Mark Robins — who was appointed earlier this month after his successful spell with Coventry City — to fix the long-standing problem. Robins is known for developing attacking players and building balanced teams, and supporters are hopeful he can end the club’s years of mid-table stagnation.

 

Stoke City haven’t had a player score 15 league goals in a single season since Ricardo Fuller in the 2007/08 campaign — a stat that both frustrates fans and highlights the need for a game-changing addition this summer.

 

Johnson believes a reliable striker could do more than just add goals. “It would lift the whole team,” he said. “The defence won’t feel as much pressure, the midfield can focus on creating, and the fans will start to believe again. One proper striker can change everything.”

 

With a limited budget and Championship competition fierce, Stoke’s recruitment team has their work cut out. But Johnson’s message is clear: get the striker right, and the rest could fall into place.

 

As the summer window approaches, all eyes will be on Robins and the Stoke City board to see whether they’ll finally break the club’s long-standing striker curse — and give themselves a real shot at the top six.

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