The Stoke City wonderkid that could save the Potters millions | OneFootball

Stoke City have struggled with misfiring strikers, but could see their prayers answered without needing to dip into the transfer market.

Stoke City have struggled with misfiring strikers, but could see their prayers answered without needing to dip into the transfer market.

While multiple front-line attacking options have faltered for the Potters in recent times, there could be light at the end of the tunnel with highly-rated Emre Tezgel already on the books.

Emre Tezgel signing new contract a sign of intent

While reports from TEAMtalk revealed that Premier League newbies Leeds United were interested in the prodigy, Tezgel opted to remain in Stoke.

It was rumoured that several clubs were seeking to sign the Potters academy graduate, who is only 19 years old, including from Turkey where he has family ties through his father.

However, despite the vast interest from elsewhere, Tezgel remained at the Stoke he called “my club” and the “right place” for him to develop after penning a new two-year deal.

Aged just 16, Tezgel became the Potters’ youngest ever first-team player, debuting against Leyton Orient in the Emirates FA Cup.

The former MK Dons loanee has featured regularly for Stoke’s under-18 and under-21s team, while also training with the first-team.

City struggled to an 18th-placed finish in the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship, only avoiding relegation by two points. Relegated duo Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City, as well as draw-specialists Preston North End, were the only teams who won less games than Stoke’s 12 across the league campaign.

Goalscoring was a thorn in their side, with Luton Town equalising their measly tally of 45 goals, and only Hull City’s 44 having a worse record than theirs in the second-tier.

Injury luck and an opportunity is all Stoke City youngster needs

Tezgel could be the answer to Stoke’s issues in front of goal, in the process saving the club from having to potentially fork out millions to find a worthy replacement for their struggling front-line.

Former Blackburn Rovers attacker Sam Gallagher managed just three goals, while Ali Al-Hamadi netted only twice after he joined from Premier League Ipswich Town for the second half of the campaign.

Nathan Lowe was recalled from his loan at League Two Walsall in January, and after scoring 18 times for the promotion-chasers only found the back of the net once back at Stoke.

The club’s top scorer in the Championship was Leicester City loanee Tom Cannon, who left the club in January after scoring nine goals in the division. That was a show of how much City had struggled in the final third, especially in the back half of the campaign.

It is clear for all to see that Stoke need to solve their attacking woes to have any chance of pushing up the table next term. And, the answer to that could be their prodigy striker.

However, he needs two things to be able to success.

The first is a clear bill of health in terms of injuries. If Tezgel can escape time on the injury list, which is something that has caused issues in his young career to date, then he could push into being Stoke’s primary source of goals and attacking output.

The second element may come as a result of the first, as the 19-year-old simply needs the opportunities to shine. While he managed 12 Championship appearances last season, only two came from the start, and he played a relatively low 291 minutes of football.

Staying clear of injuries and being afforded the chances to play regular football could give Tezgel the key to success he needs to build a formidable Championship record and that Stoke are desperately calling out for.