Hughes hoping to end Stoke’s goals shortage by signing Monaco man

According to The Times, Stoke have offered Monaco £5m for striker Emmanuel Riviere, as Mark Hughes looks for a regular source of goals to help halt his side’s perilous lurch towards the Premier League relegation places.

This would be some coup for the Potters as Riviere has provided the Ligue 1 title hopefuls with eight goals in only 11 league starts this season.

However, he only cost Monaco around £3m in January 2013 and with the arrival of much-sought-after striker Lacina Traore from Anzhi Makhachkala during the January window; it’s believed the French club could be willing to let Riviere part company.

Stoke are certainly in dire need of goals as they bid to overt being dragged into the Premier League relegation frame – where their chances of the drop are currently rated at 6/1.

Only four top-flight teams have registered fewer goals than Hughes’ charges and two of those currently occupy the bottom two places in the table.

The Potters’ struggles in the centre-forward department are perfectly outlined by the fact midfielder Charlie Adam is their top scorer in the Premier League with five.

Peter Crouch is next with a modest return of four, Jonathan Walters has two and wantaway striker Kenwyne Jones is currently being outscored in the league by one-goal-keeper Asmir Begovic.

Manager Hughes has already moved to remedy the situation by bringing in John Guidetti from Manchester City on loan for the rest of the season, though he is still keen to add extra quality to his squad.

Stoke’s next league test comes in the form of a huge six-pointer against Sunderland on Wearside, where the Potters are priced at 12/5 to claim a vital three points.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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