Stoke City have rejected a £7m bid from Hull City for Sorba Thomas, according to Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett. The Welshman was on the radar of the Tigers back in January 2025, and following a standout season, he has returned to their interest. While West Ham also considered the winger earlier in the transfer window, the Hammers chose to move for Manor Solomon instead, leaving Thomas to remain at the bet365 Stadium for now.
The Potters are demanding a fee in excess of £10m to let Thomas depart before the summer window closes. The £7m offer sits comfortably below the club's valuation, though Dorsett notes that negotiations are currently ongoing. Thomas enjoyed a productive campaign last term, hitting double digits in both goals and assists. He netted 10 goals and provided 13 assists as Stoke City finished the season 17th in the Championship standings table.
Although the 27-year-old currently has a contract running for another two years, the threat of a move before the deadline remains a concern. Thomas has previously struggled with consistency throughout his career. His breakthrough period with Huddersfield Town in the 2021/22 season saw him provide 14 assists to dismantle Championship defenses, yet he failed to score in the following year and only found the net once during a loan spell at FC Nantes.
The 2025/26 season proved his worth, as he became a constant threat on the left for SCFC, balancing goalscoring with creative output. Losing a player of his caliber represents a significant blow to the squad, given he functioned as a talismanic figure last year. If the move materializes, finding a suitable replacement before the window ends will be difficult for Mark Robins. While Million Manhoef and Ato Ampah are available in the squad, neither matches the statistical output Thomas delivered.
In other news, the club is facing internal scrutiny following a recent defeat to Southampton. Mark Robins expressed frustration regarding the quality of his substitutes, but former defender Gareth Owen suggested the starting XI shared some responsibility. Owen noted that Robins may not have wanted to remove Éric Bocat, but the player was flagging physically. The Potters have struggled with fitness, as several players missed pre-season and new arrivals are still getting up to speed. The club has stated that players improve over the course of the season, but the physical gap in the final 30 minutes against Southampton was evident.
Meanwhile, Éric Bocat has drawn interest from AS Monaco. The French side has added the Frenchman to their shortlist as they seek reinforcement at left-back after the departures of Caio Henrique and Kassoum Ouattara. Monaco has reportedly made contact with Stoke City, though no immediate deal is expected. Burnley and FC Köln are also in the race for the defender.
