Stoke City can find Sorba Thomas replacement with swoop for Barnsley star | OneFootball

Stoke City should plot a move for Barnsley sensation Reyes Cleary in case Sorba Thomas joins Hull City

Stoke City star Sorba Thomas looks increasingly likely to leave the club before the end of the window amid intense interest from Premier League outfit Hull City, as the Potters must delve into League One to source their replacement.

With just days remaining of the 2026 summer window, there is a huge degree of uncertainty surrounding Stoke’s attacking options.

The Potters have lost both of their opening two Championship games of the season to Swansea City and Southampton, and could be set for a huge blow before the deadline, with Hull heavily interested in star winger Thomas.

The Tigers have reportedly seen a bid worth a potential £7 million rebuffed by the Championship outfit for the Welshman, who are looking for in excess of an eight-figure fee to part with their star player, as Sergej Jakirovic’s side don’t appear to be done in their pursuit of the player just yet.

Canadian winger Liam Millar was initially touted to be a part of a potential deal for Thomas, heading in the opposite direction, though that has since been ruled out, as Stoke can find their heir to Thomas in the third tier this summer.

Stoke City should look to sign Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary in case of Sorba Thomas exit

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Replacing Thomas is a task few will envy Mark Robins for, but it may well be the one the former Coventry City boss finds himself in sooner rather than later.

Thomas, 27, directly contributed to 21 goals in the Championship last season, scoring ten and grabbing 11 assists, playing a role in over 40 per cent of the Potters’ league goals last time around.

His move from Huddersfield Town last summer for less than £2 million quickly appeared to be a bargain, as Stoke are now looking to make a healthy profit from that.

His presence on the left flank will be next to impossible to replace, as Stoke should look to League One Barnsley over the potential addition of Reyes Cleary.

According to Darren Witcoop via X, numerous Championship clubs have seen offers in excess of £3 million knocked back for the former West Bromwich Albion academy player, as Stoke should be the ones to stump up an acceptable fee to source their Thomas replacement.

Reyes Cleary enjoyed an exceptional year in League One with Barnsley last season

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Cleary, 22, scored seven and grabbed 13 assists in 42 third-tier games for the Tykes last season, having made the move to Oakwell on a free transfer following his release from West Brom.

The winger had previously spent time out on loan with Walsall and National League side Hartlepool United, and was allowed to leave the Baggies for nothing last summer, a decision they must surely now regret.

Barnsley aren’t looking to part ways with Cleary easily, and are looking for a fee similar to that of what Plymouth Argyle commanded for Lorent Tolaj and what Leyton Orient asked for Dominic Ballard, both in the region of around £4 million-£5 million.

The Englishman, after just one year in League One, already looks set to make the step up to the Championship, as Stoke mustn’t let this potential bargain slip through the cracks.

Why Reyes Cleary would be an ideal Sorba Thomas replacement at Stoke City

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Cleary, like Thomas, prefers to operate off the left flank, where he can cut in on his preferred right foot. However, there are some clear differences when it comes to the pair, whilst there are some similarities too.

According to FotMob, both had a similar expected goal return last season, with Thomas on 4.82 and Cleary on 4.25, as both also outperformed that return, whilst Thomas took 58 shots across the league campaign compared to Cleary's 51, having a similar sort of goal threat off the left.

However, whilst Cleary registered two more assists in the division than Thomas, the data would suggest that the Englishman was lucky to do so, as Thomas' 90 chances created compared to Cleary's 53 makes the Welshman almost twice as creative as the Barnsley star.

Whereas Thomas prefers to cross the ball in whenever the opportunity arises, making 79 successful crosses across the campaign, Cleary made just 39, preferring to take on his defender with the ball at his feet, with 52 successful dribbles compared to Thomas' 38.

Whilst not totally similar players, Cleary's preference for taking on his defender makes him a less direct player than Thomas, and therefore, on the whole, less creative, as whether this is something that will benefit Stoke in the long run is up for debate.

Still just 22, time is on the Englishman's side, as with just one year of consistent professional football under his belt, he will only improve, as having found a bargain in League One with Thomas previously, Stoke should aim to complete a similar trick with Cleary.

Mark Robins has a near-impossible task of replacing Sorba Thomas amid Hull City bid

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In truth, there are very few, if any, similar players to Thomas out there, and even fewer available on the market, as finding a player with a similar skillset and capable of performing at a similar level is simply not an option for Robins.

Football League World's Stoke fan pundit, Ryan Beresford, has previously said Hull's opening bid of £7 million was a 'joke', and that the club should be looking for around £15 million instead.

Stoke must replace Thomas with someone in the event of his departure, and cannot rely on any of their current options to take on the mantle of spearheading their attack.