Stoke City may be concerned at Andoni Iraola's new AFC Bournemouth transfer update | OneFootball

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola confirmed the club are hunting an Antoine Semenyo replacement, with Stoke City's Sorba Thomas being linked

AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has confirmed that the Premier League club are on the hunt for a replacement for Antoine Semenyo this January, with Stoke City's Sorba Thomas having previously been linked.

Sorba Thomas has been Stoke City's standout performer this campaign, and that has been reflected in his links to Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth as of late.

The Daily Mail recently reported that Welsh international Thomas had been shortlisted by the Cherries as a potential replacement for the outgoing Antoine Semenyo.

Semenyo has recently completed a £64 million transfer to Manchester City from Bournemouth, and Iraola has now confirmed that 'the club are working hard to find an Antoine Semenyo replacement', as per Sky Sports' Mark McAdam.

Whilst it is no surprise that Bournemouth are searching for a replacement for their star forward, it will nevertheless come as a concern to everyone at Stoke, who will be desperate to keep Thomas around amid the Potters' play-off push.

Having only signed this summer in a three-year deal from League One side Huddersfield Town, Stoke will undoubtedly be concerned about Iraola's recent comments.

Indeed, whether Bournemouth will view Thomas as a viable replacement for Semenyo remains to be seen, with the 26-year-old having never played in the Premier League during his career; his only top-flight experience came last season on loan in Ligue 1 with Nantes.

The Welsh winger has lit up the Championship this campaign with the Potters, scoring nine and assisting six, starting every single league game thus far, highlighting his importance to the side, with no player having registered more direct goal contributions than the Welshman.

Bournemouth have dipped into the second-tier market in recent years as a means of recruitment, with the likes of Alex Scott, Marcus Tavernier, Ben Gannon-Doak, David Brooks, and, indeed, Semenyo himself having all previously played Championship football prior to their switch to the South Coast.

Thomas could well be next on that conveyor belt, though, with no direct interest being stated, it's merely just speculation at this stage.

Stoke will nevertheless remain anxious over any potential bids that come their way for Thomas this January, as they know they will be powerless to resist such a substantial bid.

Mark Robins and Stoke City will be heavily reluctant to see Sorba Thomas leave the club this January

As previously mentioned, no player currently in the Championship has registered more direct goal contributions than Thomas this season.

Of the 32 league goals that Stoke have scored this season, the Welshman has been directly involved in 15 of them, almost half, and if Hayden Matthews hadn't redirected his wicked cross away to Portsmouth in Stoke's 1-0 victory earlier this season, it would be 16, exactly half.

Thomas had started every single league game so far this season, one of the few outfield players in the league to do so, due to his crucial role to the side.

Although the Potters slipped down the table in recent months with just two wins in ten, back-to-back victories away to Hull City and Norwich City have put them back within touching distance of the top six once again.

Having narrowly survived relegation last season, it is a remarkable turnaround in form from Robins' side, who are almost certain to have their best league finish since dropping to the Championship back in 2018.

It cannot be understated just how important Thomas is to Stoke and their ambitions of a play-off finish, as should he depart, Stoke's top six ambitions this season would almost certainly leave with him.