Dion Charles features: 5 EFL stars who must be on Stoke City's transfer shortlist | OneFootball

Steven Schumacher's side have already recruited from within the Football League

It's fair to say it has already been a busy start to this summer's transfer window at Stoke City.

Last week, the Potters completed their third signing of the window already, with left-back Eric Bocat arriving from Belgian side Sint-Truiden.

Prior to that, Steven Schumacher's side had already added two players to their first-team squad, from elsewhere in the Football League.

Goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has been bought from Rotherham United, while centre back Ben Gibson arrived on a free transfer after the expiration of his contract with Norwich City.

There is, though, still plenty more business for the club to do before the window closes on the 30th August.

So, with that in mind, we've taken a look at five more players from the Football League that Stoke City could consider targeting in the summer transfer window, right here.

Charlie Cresswell

Despite the signing of Gibson, the departures of Ciaran Clark and Luke McNally since the end of last season means the Potters are still somewhat short of options at centre back.

It could therefore be argued that Charlie Cresswell could be a target worth looking into this summer, given he has reportedly just seen a £3.8million move from Leeds United to Toulouse collapse.

The 21-year-old needs a move, having struggled for game time at Elland Road, and showed he could be a solid option in the Championship during a loan spell with Millwall previously. Whether Stoke could afford that fee the same as Toulouse remains to be seen, but it could at least be worth exploring the possibility of a move, which would be another eye-catching one for the Potters.

Bali Mumba

Right-back is another position where it seems Schumacher will need more options this summer, with Junior Tchamadeu currently his sole senior option in that role.

He could therefore, potentially consider a reunion with Bali Mumba, given he has previously done deals to bring other players he worked with at his former club, Plymouth Argyle, to Stoke.

Mumba is therefore someone he could bring the best out of, and he showed last season that he is more than capable of making an impact at this level. With three years remaining on his contract, this would need some negotiation, but the circumstances mean it should surely at least be looked into by the Potters.

Paik Seung-ho

With Josh Laurent reported to be attracting interest from at home and abroad, another central midfielder may also need to be on the agenda for Stoke.

One they may want to consider is Paik Seung-ho, with the South Korean international having impressed in the Championship after joining Birmingham City in the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old has the time left in his career to be an asset for years to come, and while he does have two years left on his contract at St Andrew's, the Blues' relegation to League One at the end of last season means he may now be a more attainable target than would otherwise be the case.

Brandon Thomas-Asante

Departures mean that Stoke currently have just two natural centre forwards - Ryan Mmaee and Niall Ennis - left in their first-team squad, and they scored just four goals in 38 league games for the Potters between them.

Some other options in that position may therefore be needed, and West Brom's Brandon Thomas-Asante could be considered. The 25-year-old has scored some important goals for the Baggies in the past couple of seasons, and does know how to find the net at this level.

He is also known to Stoke, after they reportedly saw a bid for the striker rejected last summer. But with Thomas-Asante now entering the final year of his contract with West Brom, putting the pressure on them to cash in, this could now be a more affordable deal for Schumacher and co.

Another striker the Potters have been linked with in the past who they may want to consider again this summer, is Dion Charles.

The 28-year-old has produced a prolific return in front of goal in League One for several seasons now, suggesting he is ready for the step-up to Championship football, where a similar impact would undoubtedly be useful for Schumacher's side.

Meanwhile, with Bolton having suffered the blow of missing out on promotion after defeat in the League One play-off final last season, they could also find themselves under pressure when it comes to the future of Charles, should an offer from a Championship club such as Stoke City come in this summer.