"Ultimately, Huddersfield got relegated" - West Brom urged to abandon League One transfer pursuit | OneFootball

Sorba Thomas was one of the few bright sparks for the Terriers last season, but couldn't prevent the club from suffering Championship relegation.

This article is part of Football League World’s 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

West Brom have reportedly enquired over the possibility of signing Huddersfield Town winger Sorba Thomas this summer, with the Baggies understood to be unwilling to meet the Terriers' £1 million asking price.

That is according to journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon, and the sale of Thomas, on paper, would be a significant blow to Huddersfield Town as they prepare for life in League One next season.

Nixon states that West Brom manager Carlos Corberan is keen on Thomas after working with the wide player during the 2021-22 season, and would be interested in bringing the Welsh international to The Hawthorns this summer, but have been put off by his seven figure price-tag.

If the Baggies do intend on securing a deal for the Terriers star, they may have to move quickly, as Nixon reveals in his report that French side Nantes have tabled an offer to the League One side, and are hopeful of striking a deal for him.

Football League World's West Brom fan pundit, Matt Smith, believes that signing a player who was part of a team that suffered Championship relegation in 2023/24 is not the sort of player Albion should be targeting this summer.

"Because ultimately, Huddersfield got relegated. I'm not sure that's the quality of player Albion should be signing, especially for £1 million.

"Yes, he might have been good under the manager a few years ago, but I just don't think we should be really trying to sign relegated players to be honest, unless they were standout performers, which he clearly wasn't.

"So, it's not a signing that excites me, I think I'd rather try and go for someone else. Whether that's another player for similar money from abroad, or from a league below, or a Premier League player on loan."

The opportunity to sign a proven Championship player who is only just about to enter the supposed 'prime years' of a footballer's career, for a cut-price fee, is not an opportunity that should be dismissed eagerly.

In Thomas, 25, West Brom and indeed the rest of the second tier have that exact chance to recruit such a player this summer, and they should be giving it a great deal of consideration.

Last season was no flash in the pan either. Indeed, the winger who used to ply his trade in non-league for Boreham Wood, has evidenced his creative production levels at Championship level in the past, to devastating effect.

No player in Thomas' position created more chances than his 123 in the Championship last season, or completed more successful crosses than the Welshman's 148 - per FotMob.

In fact, only Ipswich Town's flying wing-back Leif Davis (125) created more chances than the Huddersfield winger in the entire division in 2023/24.

Those numbers, combined with four goals and nine assists in a season in which centre-back Michal Helik finished as Town's top scorer with nine goals, make for even more impressive reading.

Therefore, it's clear to see that Thomas was not to blame for Huddersfield's relegation, and in truth, it was largely down to the work of the skillful wideman that the club weren't confined to League One football even sooner.

The departure of loanee Mikey Johnston back to his parent club Celtic, has left the Baggies with a significant creative void to fill on the wing.

Johnston took the Championship by storm in the second half of last season, scoring seven times and registering two assists in just 20 league appearances.

Removing him from Corberan's squad has left Tom Fellows as one of the few remaining natural wingers in Corberan's first team squad.

Grady Diangana can play on the wing, but saw the majority of his minutes coming as more of a number 10 behind the striker, whilst Jed Wallace can also play out wide, but he too was seen more in a centre-forward role through the middle.

As such, Albion could massively do with a true out-and-out, direct wide player this summer to fill Johnston's boots, and Thomas would be exactly that.

Therefore, for a club who have done a lot of smart business, for little to no money in recent times, West Brom should see the Huddersfield Town star as a perfect opportunity to add proven Championship quality to their squad, without breaking the bank.