AFC Bournemouth eyeing big Stoke City transfer raid - he could replace Antoine Semenyo | OneFootball

Premier League side Bournemouth have identified Stoke's Sorba Thomas as a potential replacement for the outgoing Antoine Semenyo

Stoke City's star man Sorba Thomas has come under the subject of interest from Premier League side AFC Bournemouth, as the Cherries search for a replacement for the outgoing Antoine Semenyo.

According to The Daily Mail, Bournemouth have shortlisted Stoke's Sorba Thomas as a potential replacement for Manchester City-bound forward Antoine Semenyo.

Thomas, 26, has been in red-hot form for the Potters this season, having started each of their 26 Championship matches so far this season, scoring nine and assisting six, becoming an integral figure from the left flank.

A fully-fledged Welsh international, Thomas joined Stoke this summer on a three-year deal from League One outfit Huddersfield Town, having spent the previous season on loan in the French Ligue 1 with Nantes.

This will not come as welcome news for Stoke fans, many of whom will still believe a play-off place is still well and truly on the cards, and losing Thomas would significantly damage those efforts.

Bournemouth identify Stoke City's Sorba Thomas as an option to replace Antoine Semenyo

Indeed, Thomas has been shortlisted by Bournemouth as a potential replacement for Semenyo on the left flank in the Cherries' ranks.

Bournemouth have had great success in picking up players from the second tier in recent years and developing them, with Semenyo being no different, having joined the Cherries from Bristol City in January 2023.

The likes of Alex Scott, Ben Gannon-Doak, David Brooks, Marcus Tavernier, and even as far back as Lewis Cook were all signed after impressing in the second tier, with Bournemouth's recruitment system long being lauded as one of the best in the country.

Though, frustratingly for Cherries fans, they are not seen by many as the destination, but as a platform to get there, with the likes of Milos Kerkez, Ilia Zabarnyi, and Dean Huijsen all being sold for substantial fees as recently as this summer.

Semenyo appears to be next in line, with Manchester City having agreed to pay his £65 million release clause to bring him to the Etihad this winter amid widsepread interest.

Thomas would appear to be the next in line on that conveyor belt, with Bournemouth hoping to bring him to the club, develop him even more, before potentially being sold on for a huge profit once again.

What sort of fee Stoke would demand for their star winger remains to be seen, but with the Potters in the midst of a battle for a place in the play-offs and having only joined the club in the summer, he certainly won't come cheap.

Nevertheless, Bournemouth aren't exactly without funds, and should they want to sign him, Stoke would likely be powerless to resist a substantial fee for the Welshman.

Mark Robins will be desperate to keep Sorba Thomas at Stoke City beyond January to keep promotion hopes alive

There will be few people who would want to see Thomas depart Stoke less than their head coach, Mark Robins.

Robins, who has now spent over a year at the club, managed to keep them afloat in the Championship last campaign by the skin of their teeth, with crucial victories over Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City enough to do the job.

The former Coventry City boss has instilled a strong core into his Potters side, currently possessing the best defensive record in the division, conceding just 23 goals in 26 outings.

This strong foundation from the back has meant that Stoke have somewhat suffered at the other end of the pitch, with only Millwall (29) having scored fewer than their 32 in the league's top 16 ranked sides.

Thomas has more often than not been the game changer for Stoke, popping up when the Potters need him most, and Robins will be absolutely desperate to keep hold of him for as long as possible.

Stoke may well be active this January, having already been linked with Sheffield Wednesday loanee Harry Amass, as well as Aston Villa forward Louie Barry, with the Potters hoping that this year could be their year to break into the top six.

It cannot be understated just how crucial Thomas will prove to be to those efforts, and Robins will know he must do everything in his power to keep him in the Potteries beyond January.