Stoke City fought off competition from Fiorentina to sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

The former Schalke attacker joined Stoke over the summer, signing a deal to 2020.

However, TMW says Choupo-Moting's agent and father both met with Fiorentina as they were considering his future with S04.

Stoke were aware of Viola's attempts, but were always confident having laid the groundwork to sign the attacker for several months.