Huddersfield Town: Nantes urged to cut short Sorba Thomas loan deal amid Hull City transfer talks | OneFootball

The Welsh international looks set for a return to the Championship this winter

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…

Sorba Thomas could well be on course for an earlier return to English football than expected this winter, with Hull City said to be on course to bring the Welshman to the MKM Stadium during the current transfer window.

According to Hull Live, the Tigers have reached an agreement with parent club Huddersfield Town over a deal for the wide man, despite the former Boreham Wood man currently being on loan with Nantes in Ligue 1.

The playmaker made the move to France in the summer following the Terriers’ drop down to League One, but has struggled for minutes for his move across the Channel, leading to City’s move to try and bring the player to Humberside this winter.

With many moving parts to the deal, we asked Football League World’s Huddersfield fan pundit Graeme Rayner about his thoughts on the situation, with the Yorkshire side ready to cash in if they get the green light.

Sorba Thomas backed to make Hull City switch if Nantes agree to deal

Despite Huddersfield reportedly agreeing a deal with Hull earlier this month, the duo remain at loggerheads with Nantes, who are reportedly happy to let Thomas stay in France for the remainder of the campaign.

Since making the move to Ligue 1, the Welshman has featured 16 times, scoring once and setting up two more, but has found game time hard to come by overall, with just 839 minutes on the pitch in the campaign to date.

With the player likely to be keen to feature more prominently, and the Terriers set to cash in on a player they are happy to be without, Rayner would be keen to get a deal over the line, if the French side decide to play ball, and with Thomas reportedly keen on coming back to England to be with his family, Nantes have been urged to do the right thing by the player.

When asked on the Sorba scenario, Town supporter Graeme said: “If a fee has been agreed, I think it would probably be better for Sorba to come home to England.

“I don’t think he is getting enough football over in France anyway, and I think he needs to be playing football, so good luck to him wherever he goes.

“I know a lot of Town fans have different views about him, but I believe he is a good player, certainly a Championship quality player.

“His rise from non-league to playing international football for Wales alongside Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey has been an interesting one to watch, so I wish him the best of luck if he does go permanently.

“As long as the fee that we have agreed is something that reflects his value as an International player, his age, and all of those things, then good luck to him. If the fee is not right, then we shouldn’t be doing the leg work.”

Nantes negotiations pivotal in Sorba Thomas, Hull City deal

While Nantes have proven to be something of a stumbling block in the Thomas scenario, there is said to be optimism that a deal can be completed before the transfer window comes to a close on February 3.

Rayner is of the belief that the deal benefits all parties, and if the French side can use the situation to their advantage and find an upgrade this winter, it could be all systems go for a return to English football for the ex-Blackburn Rovers loanee.

The Terriers fan continued: “I suppose now it is up to what Nantes want to do, and I am not sure why they wouldn’t want to cut his loan short given the fact that he hasn’t played much for them since he has been there.

“He has played about 16 times for them and I don’t think he has started a huge number. He hasn’t made a huge contribution over there, I think his goal contributions sound at about three in 18 games, and in those 18 games he has played about ten games’ worth of football in terms of minutes.

“So, I would say by all means he can go, and if I were at Nantes I would probably cut his loan short and get someone else in.”