Stoke City told to beat Ipswich Town to Man City transfer - Tom Cannon's deal set the standard | OneFootball

FLW's resident Potter believes a potential move for Divin Mubama has knock-on effects for the club's existing strikers

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Stoke City are reportedly considering a loan move for Manchester City's 20-year-old striker Divin Mubama, who netted an impressive 17 goals in 13 Premier League 2 appearances last season.

The Potters could face competition from freshly-relegated Ipswich Town, who were credited with an interest in Mubama's signature on a permanent basis last month by Fabrizio Romano amid a £10 million valuation from Pep Guardiola's side.

Mubama joined Manchester City from West Ham last summer for £1.5 million in compensation after his contract expired at the London Stadium. At West Ham, he was the main man in their FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2023, finishing as the competition's top scorer with eight goals.

Since arriving in Manchester, Mubama has only made two first-team appearances under Pep Guardiola - but scored on his debut in an 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford City.

Divin Mubama, Stoke City loan will have a big impact on current options

The potential loan signing of Divin Mubama presents Stoke City with an intriguing opportunity, according to FLW's resident Potter Sam Harrison, who believes the potential move comes with important considerations about the club's existing striking options.

"I think it's interesting with him being a striker. If this was a winger you say most of the time wingers aren’t set in stone, like you’re definitely being left wing, right wing every single week, there’s quite a battle," Harrison said.

"With a striker role, like what Tom Cannon did banging in the goals, no one else is going to have much of a chance because Cannon made that his own."

Harrison points to the departure of Niall Ennis to Blackpool as creating a potential opening, but notes the knock-on effects any new signing would have on Stoke's current young forwards.

"The thing is what happens with the likes of Emre Tezgel, Nathan Lowe, if we’re loaning them out which would be solid - Tezgel and Lowe going to League One and League Two then opens the door for someone like him to be given the chance," he added.

Both 19 years old, Nathan Lowe was named League Two's Young Player of the Season after scoring 18 goals in 30 appearances on loan at Walsall, whereas Emre Tezgel has signed a new two-year deal with the club after being set back with injuries.

Mark Robins and Stoke City could repeat Tom Cannon success with Divin Mubama, Man City deal

Harrison believes both Tezgel and Lowe will get opportunities under Mark Robins - but suggests the Potters would also look for a permanent striker signing alongside any loan move for Mubama.

He also pointed out the impact of Tom Cannon, who scored 11 goals across all competitions in the first-half of last season before being recalled by Leicester City ahead of a permanent transfer to Sheffield United. Harrison has told Stoke to try and repeat that sort of deal, if it's possible.

"We need battle up top, don’t get me wrong, you could have that with him and Nathan Lowe, but I think then you’d look at someone with experience, say Sam Gallagher, and have more of a contest as to who’s going to start week in, week out," Harrison stated.

"I just think with Stoke, Tom Cannon did it superbly - which we haven’t seen in a while, but that striker role at Stoke is such a tricky one because pressure can also come on you and at 20, he’s on loan he shouldn’t have to be nailing in the goals, but Tom Cannon showed what he’s made of and Stoke should try something like that if they can financially."

If Divin Mubama can come in and have the same sort of impact as what Cannon did, then it'll of course be seen as a good deal to make - but Stoke already have some very talented youngsters at their disposal.