Stoke City, who could be on their way down to Championship next season have expressed interest in Ligue 1 striker Stephane Bahoken. He plays for Racing Club de Strasbourg who are currently in a relegation battle in the French first division.
Stoke City are having a dismal season as they are 5 points away from safety. With just 4 games remaining, the odds are heavily stacked against them on their survival. Stoke City were once known to be a defensively organised and disciplined team but they have lacked that this season. Going upfront also they have struggled as they have managed just 31 goals in their entire Premier League campaign. The Potters will be facing the high flying Burnley this weekend and without saying that is pretty much a must-win game for them.
According to reports, the Potters aren’t the only one who are interested in Bahoken. The forward is being targeted by several other English clubs like Aston Villa, Swansea City and Brighton and Hove Albion. The French striker has been in good form for his team this season as he has scored six goals in his last 14 starts for the club.
Bahoken played for France in various age restricted tournaments but decided to feature for Cameroon at the senior level as he is more likely to play for the African country. His father, Paul Bahoken was also a forward and represented Cameroon in the 1982 world cup.
The Strasbourg striker is a traditional number 9 as he makes use of his physical strength and stature. His hold up play is good and he is clinical in front of goal. He can even be partnered with a quick striker who can run off him or chase the second balls which Bahoken can win in the air.
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If Stoke City fail to survive in the Premier League, they could lose out on some of their key players as players will harbour hopes of playing in the top flight. In such a scenario, The Potters need to start planning and decide who can be their players to replace the outgoing ones as they will look to bounce back straight away in the Premier League. Bahoken has shown interest in English clubs but with other Premier League clubs monitoring his situation, it could be hard for Stoke City to lure him if they relegate to Championship status.
