How Stoke City’s Sorba Thomas really feels about playing PL football as Everton lurk | OneFootball

What Sorba Thomas has said about his Premier League ambitions amid Everton interest

Everton is the latest Premier League side to have reportedly taken an interest in Stoke City's star winger Sorba Thomas, with the Welshman enjoying his most productive season of his career to date.

At one point in the campaign, Stoke looked to be a real contender not only for one of the top six places but for one of the automatic promotion places, with the Potters enjoying an excellent start to the year.

Under Mark Robins, Stoke barely survived relegation to League One last season, but quickly found themselves challenging Coventry City and Middlesbrough in the upper echelons of the Championship table in the opening stages of the season.

However, they were unable to maintain their good form, and as a result, have slipped down the standings, with another year in the second tier the most likely outcome at this stage.

Despite their drop-off, Welsh international winger Sorba Thomas has continued to dazzle from the wing, with ten goals and nine assists in 38 Championship games thus far, having previously been the subject of interest from Bournemouth, with Everton now the latest side to reportedly stand up and take notice.

With Thomas unlikely to be playing in the top flight next season in the Potteries, he has laid out his ambitions of playing at the pinnacle of English football for all to see, which will worry Stoke fans.

What Sorba Thomas has said regarding his ambitions of playing in the Premier League

With Everton said to be interested in making a summer move for Thomas, it will not come as welcome news to Stoke fans.

By almost all accounts, the 27-year-old has been the club's star performer this campaign, and a large reason for their success in the early stages of the year.

The Potters are unlikely to break their way into the top six now following a poor run of form, and with Thomas attracting interest, he could be on the move this summer should a big bid come Stoke's way.

Speaking about his ambitions of one day playing in the top flight, Thomas told BBC Sounds upon joining from Huddersfield Town in the summer: "Everyone knows how massive Stoke is, they're a Premier League team.

"For me, it was a no-brainer. It was just about getting something done where I'm wanted, and look, the manager showed interest in me before, and we kind of missed opportunities, but as soon as he gave me the call and showed me how interested he was, for me it was a no-brainer.

"It's a young squad. Last year was a learning curve for them and, and for me, I'd like to just come and boost it in a way, to try and add what I can add to the team, try and make them better as they make me better and to just push each other to the end, really.

Indeed, Thomas has made them better, and himself has improved, enjoying his most fruitful campaign to date.

When asked whether Stoke is a sleeping giant, Thomas said, "Yeah, one hundred per cent. As I said before, they're a team in a league which they shouldn't be in. I'm here to help them reach their goals of going back to the Premier League.

"I'm high on confidence. I want to succeed. I want to play in the Premier League. That's the main goal for probably every footballer in the team, and for me, I'm just here to push the team and get us in that situation where we can dream.

"We want the town to dream, we want the city to dream. The players need to have a dream, because if there's no dream, there's nothing to look towards."

Like any other ambitious player, Thomas wants to play in the Premier League, and whilst he may want to do that at Stoke, if an opportunity arises to make the step up in the summer, it will be hard for him to turn it down.

Mark Robins will be reluctant to see Sorba Thomas leave, but likely won't stand in his way should a Premier League offer arrive

Having signed a three-year deal only last summer, Stoke will be in no rush to part ways with Thomas this summer.

With a couple of years remaining on his deal in Staffordshire, the Potters are firmly in the driving seat when it comes to demanding a fee for their star winger, and will likely not be willing to let him go for cheap.

An exact asking price remains elusive, although it can be confidently stated that they will be looking for an eight-figure sum to even consider a departure.

Though, with Thomas now 27, he will likely feel that time is running out to make a Premier League switch, and after his best campaign to date, this summer likely presents his best opportunity to make that step up.

Should an acceptable offer arrive, Robins likely wouldn't stand in the way or begrudge him a move to the top flight, no matter how reluctant he would be to see him depart.

Though for now, Thomas is still firmly a Stoke player, and will be looking to have a strong end to the season ahead of potentially heading to the World Cup with Wales.