Stoke City must try sign £4.2m Rangers star to follow Ipswich Town deal | OneFootball

Stoke City should consider making a move for Rangers striker Bojan Miovski following George Hirst's addition from Ipswich Town

With less than two weeks to go until the transfer deadline, Stoke City are looking to add some quality in key areas, as Mark Robins has a huge task on his hands to turn the Potters' recent fortunes around.

Having dispatched Oldham Athletic in the League Cup 2-0 to open their campaign, Stoke fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Swansea City to begin their Championship season, seeing their 1-0 lead overturned by goals from Joseph Opoku and Adam Idah.

The Potters are in their ninth consecutive year in the second tier, and with their highest finish being 14th in that period, former Coventry City boss Robins will be steadfast in his ambition to end that sorry streak.

Each of Joshua Griffiths, Ethan Galbraith, Svante Ingelsson, Luke Graham, and Djibril Soumare were signed early on, as both George Hirst and Ben Johnson have arrived from Ipswich Town.

Hirst has completed a switch worth a potential £10 million from the Tractor Boys, but there is every reason to believe the Potters are not done adding in that area of the pitch just yet.

Stoke City should look to sign Bojan Miovski from Rangers after George Hirst addition

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With Hirst penning an initial three-year deal at the bet365 Stadium, the Scottish international will likely be Robins' first-choice centre-forward option this season.

Milan Smit, Nathan Lowe, and Emre Tezgel have all headed out on loan, whilst The Sun's Charlie Gordon has reported that the Potters are looking to shift Slovakian striker Robert Bozenik before the deadline, as Sam Gallagher remains a big part of plans in North Staffordshire.

Should Bozenik indeed depart, this would leave Stoke short up top, as the Potters should plot a move for Rangers striker Bojan Miovski this summer.

Miovski, 27, has fallen in the pecking order at Rangers since the arrival of Derek McInnes, and though the former Heart of Midlothian boss has stated his intentions of keeping the North Macedonian around at Ibrox, a move cannot be ruled out just yet, as Stoke should swoop.

Football League World's Potters fan pundit, Ryan Beresford, has previously backed the club to make a return for Sheffield United striker Tom Cannon, but with that move looking unlikely, Miovski would be an excellent alternative.

Bojan Miovski has previously shone for Aberdeen amid Rangers struggles

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Rangers have added Lawrence Shankland to their striker ranks this summer, following McInnes from Tynecastle, and with Ryan Don Naderi also in contention for a place up top, Miovski's place in the side is far from guaranteed.

Though Youssef Chermiti's long-term injury will keep the Portuguese hitman out of action for the foreseeable future, Rangers' pursuit of another striker has been made clear by McInnes, with the Glaswegian outfit plotting a move for Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy.

Miovski, having made a name for himself in his native North Macedonia and Hungary, joined Aberdeen in 2022 and scored 44 goals and grabbed seven assists in 98 games across all competitions for the Dons.

An ill-fated spell with Girona would lead Rangers to pay an initial £2.6 million, worth up to £4.2 million for the striker last summer, but he has failed to nail down a starting berth at Ibrox and could be available before the deadline.

Why Bojan Miovski would be a good fit for Stoke City this summer

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With Hirst likely to lead the line for Stoke in Robins' 4-2-3-1 position more often than not, the Scot will need strong competition to ensure he earns his place in the side, and with Gallagher's subpar injury record casting doubt on his long-term availability, another option, especially in the event of Bozenik's departure, is a necessity.

Whilst the Potters have not tended to use two strikers under the former Coventry boss, there is no reason why they can't deploy that shape throughout the season, as Hirst and Miovski could work well together.

Hirst's tenacity and ability to trap long balls before bringing others into play will be a key component in Stoke's attacking threat, and Miovski could play off of this well.

Though, should they not play together, Hirst and Miovski will both push for a starting berth with the Potters, as both excel in winning aerial duels and getting shots off.

The North Macedonian wouldn't break the bank, and should Stoke present Rangers with an acceptable offer, then there is no reason why he and Hirst can't go neck-and-neck for a place in the starting XI in the Potteries this season.

Mark Robins must sign another striker this summer for Stoke City following George Hirst's arrival

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With seven through the doors this summer, it would be a surprise if there weren't more incomings and outgoings at this stage for Stoke.

Bozenik being linked with a move away suggests Robins isn't entirely happy with his centre-forward options, hence the arrival of Hirst and departure of Smit, and should the Slovakian leave, another striker will almost certainly be signed.

Whether that will be someone who can play alongside Hirst, challenge him for a place in the starting XI, or merely act as a backup remains to be seen, but Robins is surely further aiming to reinforce this area over the next week or so before the deadline.

It's set to be an exciting end to the summer window for Stoke, as Miovski should be considered by the Potters.