Mark Robins must plot Coventry City swoop to fix glaring Stoke City issue | OneFootball

Stoke City should prepare a move for Coventry City striker Ellis Simms to fix their goalscoring woes this summer

Stoke City opened their 2026/27 Championship campaign with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Swansea City, as the Potters’ need for improvement across almost all areas of the pitch was on full display.

Indeed, it wasn’t the start to the season Stoke would’ve hoped for. Eric Bocat’s first-half strike gave Mark Robins’ side the lead, but Joseph Opoku responded with an equaliser shortly after, before Adam Idah tucked away Josh Tymon’s cross just after the hour mark to give the Swans all three points.

Stoke have made efforts to improve their midfield and defence this summer, with each of Svante Ingelsson, Ethan Galbraith, and Djibril Soumare joining to reinforce the middle of the park, whilst Luke Graham has bolstered their defensive options following his arrival from Dundee.

However, there remain a few areas which could do with some attention before the September 1st deadline, one of those being up top, as Robins ought to return to his old stomping ground for the solution.

Stoke City should look to sign Ellis Simms from Coventry City this summer

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Last season, Stoke opened the campaign with one of the best defensive records in the Championship, and right up until the new year, maintained that record, even despite their dip in form.

Injuries to the likes of Junior Tchamadeu, Viktor Johansson, Ben Wilmot, Bosun Lawal, Maksym Talovierov, Ben Gibson, and Aaron Cresswell disrupted their defensive solidity, yet their most clear and obvious problem throughout the year was their ability to find the back of the net.

Between them, Sam Gallagher, Robert Bozenik, Milan Smit, and Lamine Cisse scored seven goals in 88 league appearances last season, whilst Divin Mubama could only manage five in 26 Championship games, with three of those coming in one match.

Sorba Thomas directly contributed to over 40% of Stoke’s league goals last season, and replicating that feat will be a tough ask for the Welshman, as Robins must look for reinforcements up top.

Ipswich Town’s George Hirst has been linked with a potential £10 million switch, whilst a move for Norwegian forward Daniel Karlsbakk has gone quiet weeks after interest reportedly emerged, as Robins should return to Coventry to prepare a move for Ellis Simms.

Simms, 25, was a regular for the Sky Blues under Frank Lampard last season, playing a crucial role in their promotion to the Premier League, but following their return to the top-flight, could be on the move before the deadline.

Why Ellis Simms would be a good fit for Stoke City

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With both Hirst and Karlsbakk having been targeted, it’s clear Robins is looking to add a physical presence in that centre-forward role.

Simms, at 6ft 3 inches, is exactly the sort of physical profile Robins is demanding of his main striker option, and is a player he will know well, having been the head coach who signed him from Everton back in the summer of 2023 for a potential £8 million, following the sale of Viktor Gyökeres to Sporting.

The Englishman found himself behind Haji Wright in the pecking order more often than not at the CBS Arena last campaign, with only 15 of his 43 appearances coming from the start.

Simms can act as an excellent focal point, capable of trapping long balls in the air and across the floor, before bringing others into play.

With Thomas one of the very best crossers of the ball in the division, having someone like Simms to aim for in the box would be a dream pairing.

Out of contract at the end of next season, Stoke could look to get the 25-year-old in on a cut-price deal; if reports are to be believed that they were willing to pay £10 million for Hirst, they could likely get Simms for less than that.

Coventry City may have opened the door for Ellis Simms’ exit as Stoke City must swoop

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Coventry have been busy in the market following their promotion to the Premier League, as Lampard aims to reinforce his side's attack with the additions of Taiwo Awoniyi and Sidiki Cherif, with a £21 million deal for the latter reportedly close to being complete.

These additions leave Simms without an obvious place in the side, falling further down the pecking order as a result, with an exit looking incredibly likely.

Should the Sky Blues want to avoid losing him for nothing, they could look to strike a deal for his sale this summer, as Stoke should be all over the deal to reunite Robins with his former centre-forward.

Stoke City must look to reinforce elsewhere on top of their centre-forward options

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Stoke's transfer business should not be finished with their pursuit of a centre-forward, as arguably another winger, attacking-midfielder, right-back, and left-back ought to be on the cards for Robins.

Football League World exclusively revealed recently that Stoke's interest in re-signing free agent Will Smallbone this summer, whilst Aaron Cresswell's and Junior Tchamadeu's injuries have left them short at both full-back positions.