How much money Stoke City will demand West Ham pay for 'game-changer' | OneFootball

West Ham United want to sign Stoke City's Sorba Thomas this summer after the departure of Crysencio Summerville to Al Hilal

West Ham United's slow start to the summer window continues, as links to players from all corners of the globe have been prevalent, but no new faces have arrived thus far, which could be about to change sooner rather than later.

Indeed, West Ham's summer has begun agonisingly slowly, as the Hammers prepare for life back in the Championship for the first time in over 14 years.

Venezuelan winger Keiber Lamadrid remains the only addition so far, with his loan from Deportivo La Guaira move becoming permanent shortly after relegation, as new director of player recruitment Nils Koppen continues to sound out potential targets.

Mateus Fernandes’ £85 million move to Tottenham Hotspur will have gone a long way to help with the loss of Premier League revenue, as will Crysencio Summerville's £60 million deal to Al Hilal.

Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will be more than aware of the necessity to replace both, and has seemingly found his ideal Summerville replacement.

West Ham United want to sign Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas this summer following Crysencio Summerville's lucrative departure

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West Ham, under Nuno, switched between a back three and back four system last season, and following their return to the Championship, it's not yet abundantly clear which the Portuguese head coach will go with.

In their two friendly games in pre-season thus far, a 4-2-3-1 system appears to have been favoured, and should Nuno indeed persist with this next season, another option on the left flank to Lamadrid ought to be a priority.

It was previously reported over two weeks ago by the West Ham Way Patreon that Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas was of apparent interest to the Hammers, as now, Alan Nixon has confirmed via his Patreon that the Welshman is wanted by the East London outfit this summer.

Thomas, 27, joined the Potters in the summer of 2025 from League One Huddersfield Town on a three-year deal after a quiet loan spell in the French top flight for Nantes, for a fee believed to have been less than £2 million.

Described as a 'game-changer' by former Blackburn director of football Gregg Broughton - Thomas' delivery and chance creation could be a real asset for the Hammers.

The fee has proven to be a steal, with Thomas excelling in his first year at the bet365 Stadium, hitting double digits for both goals and assists in the Championship, scoring ten and assisting 11 in 45 games, predominantly from the left flank, where he can cut in on his favoured right foot.

Thomas' delivery is second to none in the second tier, capable of whipping dangerous balls into the box and causing havoc, with numerous goals scored from his deliveries going straight into the net, including one against Wrexham, one against Portsmouth, and two in one game against Charlton Athletic.

The Welshman spent time in West Ham's academy as a youngster, but failed to progress into the first team, and eventually made a name for himself with Boreham Wood before excelling in the EFL with Huddersfield, and now Stoke.

After his most prolific year of his career, the 27-year-old is around the peak of his powers, as West Ham are aiming to offer him a return to where it all began.

Nixon states that Stoke value Thomas at over £10 million, though given Summerville's recent lucrative sale to Saudi Arabia, you would imagine that sort of fee would not be an issue for the Hammers.

By all accounts, the Potters will be hoping to keep hold of Thomas beyond the summer, given his importance to the side, but should a fee arrive deemed too good to turn down, a move to West Ham could very much be on the cards.

How are West Ham supporters reacting to Sorba Thomas links?

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With Thomas the latest name linked with a move to West Ham, Hammers supporters have taken to social media to react to the news, with mixed responses across the board.

This West Ham supporter clearly sees the link as being a positive, citing his numbers from last season, as well as his previous ties to the club.

This response from this West Ham fan suggests they don't believe Thomas is up to the level that the Hammers are used to, and has urged other supporters to become accustomed to being linked with other Championship players.

Having enjoyed his best season to date recently, there is reason to be hesitant regarding this deal, as Thomas could well be a one-season wonder.