Sorba Thomas in pre-season action for Stoke City.
Sorba Thomas has transfer interest from the Premier League.(Image: Matt West/Shutterstock)
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Sorba Thomas is a role model for how players should go about their business as Stoke City brace for renewed transfer interest from the Premier League.
Stoke are believed to have knocked back an offer of up to £7 million from Hull for Wales winger Thomas, aged 27, who has been one of the leading players in the Championship since joining from Huddersfield Town last summer. Hull are expected to return with an improved package.
Robins insisted there was “no situation… no distraction” at his pre-Wolves press conference this morning but he wants to be fielding the kind of questions he has this week about more of his players going forward.
The manager said: “Decision making, movements, recognising space and where your teammates are, all of these things as you go up the ladder, players see that naturally and it’s not something that you necessarily have to think about. I think that’s case in a lot of Championship players and it’s why players are in the Championship. If you can get over that and you become a really good Championship player it means that Premier League sides start to look at you or your team starts to progress quickly. That’s where we need to get to.”
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He added: “With Sorba, I think he can be a role model for people on how to go about your business really. In terms out of possession he is probably the best that there is outside the top flight. In possession he does some incredible things and his goal contributions, whether it’s scoring or assisting, is really high.
“We love him. We think he’s fantastic but I’m not surprised there is interest.”
Thomas laid on Stoke’s goal in a Carabao Cup tie against Hull on Tuesday night and is training today as Stoke prepare for a trip to Molineux in the Championship on Saturday (12.30pm).
Robins said: “There is no situation. There’s nothing. He’s our player and we get on with it. Until somebody tells me otherwise, he’s our player, he’s doing and has done really well and continues to do so. If something happens then I’ll let you know or you’ll be told or whatever and apart from that we’re getting on with preparation for the game and there’s no reason for anything else to become a distraction.”
It is the final week of the transfer window and Stoke are expected to be active in terms of both incomings and outgoings. Stoke have a home match against Norwich on the evening of deadline day (8pm).
Stoke currently have 24 senior players and have space for 25 when they submit their squad list to the EFL next week.
Robins said: “I will definitely be busy over the next few days because we’ve got the games. My focus is purely on that. I know what we need to do and it’s whether we can do it or not. I know people are working hard behind the scenes. We’ll see. I’m sure there will be one or two things thrown up over the next few days. We’ll deal with those things as and when and hopefully we can see some new faces.
“We need some new faces as well, we need reinforcements. One or two need to go and play some football and find a home. Maybe that happens. Let’s wait and see.”
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