Placed 9th in the league table with 36 points from 29 games in the Premier League, the season so far has been pretty consistent for Stoke City. Under the tutelage of Mark Hughes, the Potters have been solidifying their stature, but then, what lies ahead for them?
They have indeed cemented a pedestal for themselves to surge further ahead and plying their trade on the lucrative European nights should be their priority for the upcoming seasons. However, to ensure the fulfilment of such yardsticks, Hughes would need some additions to his squad.
The upcoming summer transfer window shall be a very crucial one for the club. The former Queens Park Rangers manager would indeed look for quality and one of the players to have captured a lot of attention from him is Besiktas’ sensational winger, Ricardo Quaresma.
Quaresma has been in a superb form in the Turkish Super Lig with the Black Eagles, scoring 1 goal and registering 10 assists in 22 games. Besiktas are placed at the pinnacle of the domestic league table with 55 points from 25 games and he has played a major part in the achievement of the same.
The 33-year-old, despite being a right winger, could effectively ply his trade on the left wing as well as from the central attacking midfield slot. Strong physical appearance, decent pace and sheer attacking instincts make him a valued commodity in the game despite the fact that he is in his thirties.
He stretches the opponents’ defence, puts in venomous crosses, makes shrewd movements with the ball on the flanks and contributes aplenty as far as catering to the defensive needs is concerned. Moreover, he is rarely seen losing out on possession and in him, the Potters will also get a player who can take the command during the set-pieces.
Quaresma has the requisite experience and calibre to guide his teammates up front. His experience with the Portugal national team as well as at the club level is simply exemplary. The former Porto star knows how things are required to be done and he likes to keep them simple yet is highly productive.
Stoke City would be needing someone in the attacking midfield zone who could not only create plenty of goal scoring chances but also ensure that there stays a sense of hunger and the will to succeed. The 2016 Euro champion with the Portuguese national side is a proven winner and his move to the Bet365 Stadium will unarguably boost the morale of the club.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored.com
