By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham’s search for a replacement for Crysencio Summerville appears to have led them to Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas. That won’t be any revealtion to readers who have seen us linked with the wideman for the past month but it appears the Hammers have competition.
According to the Daily Mail, the Irons are one of several clubs interested in the 27-year-old, with Coventry City, Stuttgart and Genoa also monitoring his situation.
Thomas’ stock has risen significantly following an outstanding Championship campaign in which he scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists for Stoke City. The report claims the Welsh international is valued at around £9 million, making him an affordable option as West Ham continue their summer rebuild.
Not The Glamour Signing…
Thomas looks exactly what he is – a proven Championship performer.
More importantly, he’d undoubtedly be an upgrade on what West Ham currently have on the left flank… which is absolutely nothing.
Former academy graduate Thomas is unlikely to have supporters dancing in the streets if he signs, and only yesterday ExWHUEmployee suggested the Stoke winger is some way down West Ham’s shortlist rather than being the club’s priority target.
| Player | Sorba Thomas |
| Competition | Championship |
| Games | 39 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 12 |
That doesn’t necessarily make him a bad signing.
His delivery into the box is excellent, his numbers last season certainly aren’t to be sniffed at, and he already knows what it means to be associated with West Ham after spending time in the club’s academy.
With the Hammers desperately needing pace, width and creativity, you’d hope Thomas would be more eager than most to become part of a West Ham revolution which, if we’re honest, is yet to properly get started.
Could have signed him 2 months ago when there was no competition.
Need to make it a drama and wait until eleventh hour as usual.
I don’t understand why he isn’t a priority to be honest.
We have Maxwell Cornet on the left, who I think has had a good pre-season, but obviously fitness concerns. Other than that, no one. Is there a fantastic youngster coming through on the left? So why, when we need pace, championship experience and a desire to better himself, is he not an immediate target?
22 goal involvements in 46 games – 0.48 a game – that’s not an awful return. If he is valued at £9m why don’t we just get it done. We’d still need another winger (given that Lamadrid doesn’t want to be one, and we shipped Guillherme in January) so if that illusive Premier League quality (or most likely Mendes player) materialises, there’s still room both in terms of the squad and budget.
This focus on Premier League rejects – or high profile youngsters – is blinding us from the very fact that we need new signings.
Maybe, out of nowhere, we’ll announce 4 new signings. However, it’s so important we get off to a good start in the Championship, and whilst I think we might not ship many goals, the lack of pace, the lack of ability to produce goals and the lack of Championship Nous makes me think we won’t score many either.
Sorba The Leek. For this reason alone it must happen. 👌
Stoke said they have had absolutely no contact from West ham regarding Thomas so I don’t know where you’re getting you’re info from.