£30m AFC Bournemouth deal could be good news for Stoke City | OneFootball

Bournemouth's deal for Vasco da Gama's Rayan will be good news for Stoke City's Sorba Thomas hopes

Bournemouth had previously been linked with a move for Stoke City's Sorba Thomas earlier this window, but that move now appears to be in doubt following the Cherries' move for Vasco da Gama's Brazilian winger Rayan.

As per The Daily Mail, Stoke winger Sorba Thomas was the subject of a rumoured move to Premier League outfit Bournemouth earlier this January.

The Cherries succumbed to losing Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City after the Ghanaian's release clause was paid by Pep Guardiola's side, leaving the club short in forward areas.

Thomas was apparently on their shortlist of potential replacements for Semenyo, though that move now appears to be dead in the water following Bournemouth's move for Vasco da Gama winger.

According to Alex Crook via X, Bournemouth have agreed a deal in principle for the Brazilian worth around £30 million, which will come as music to Potters fans' ears, whose hopes of keeping Thomas in Staffordshire beyond the winter window have taken a massive boost.

Indeed, some Stoke fans would have been holding their breath after the news of Thomas's links with Bournemouth earlier this window.

Having only signed in the summer from League One Huddersfield Town after a loan spell in the French top flight with Nantes last season, the Welsh winger has been electric for Mark Robins' side so far this season.

Thomas first found his big break with the Terriers when he joined the West Yorkshire outfit from non-league side Boreham Wood in January 2021, and although his form has been up and down since then, with Stoke, the Welsh international has hit a new level.

He has started every league game for the club so far this season, with Thomas having directly contributed to almost half of all of the club's goals in the Championship so far this campaign.

With Stoke undergoing a raft of injuries at the present moment, Thomas' importance to the side has become even greater, with his impetus from the left flank proving to be a game-changer.

As Bournemouth edges closer to completing the capture of Rayan, Stoke will be cautiously optimistic that their star man will remain in the Potteries beyond this winter window, a top-six finish well within their sights.

Mark Robins will be hoping Sorba Thomas can continue his rich vein of form to fire Stoke City into the top six this campaign

With Thomas' importance to the Stoke side outlined, boss Robins will be hoping that the Welshman can remain fit and firing for the remainder of the campaign, with play-offs emerging as a realistic target for the club.

Stoke have failed to finish in the top half of the table ever since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018, with their highest finish being in 14th.

This campaign presents the Potters with their best opportunity to buck that trend since their return to the second tier, and Thomas will no doubt be imperative to those efforts.

Under contract until the summer of 2028, Stoke will feel little pressure to sell Thomas anytime soon, and with a place in the top-six up for grabs, it will likely take a lucrative offer to prise him away from the Potteries.