Hull City submit £10m third bid for Stoke winger Sorba Thomas

Hull City have intensified their pursuit of Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas by submitting a third offer worth £10 million as the Premier League newcomers attempt to complete the deal before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

According to the Daily Mail, Hull have returned with an improved proposal after seeing earlier attempts to sign the Wales international rejected, but Stoke have not yet agreed to sell one of the most important players in Mark Robins' squad.

The latest bid brings Hull significantly closer to the valuation Stoke have been seeking.

An initial offer in the region of £7 million was rejected last week, while subsequent reporting indicated the Championship club wanted at least £10 million for Thomas. Stoke's position is also complicated by their desire to secure a replacement before allowing the 27-year-old to leave the bet365 Stadium.

That leaves the transfer finely balanced rather than complete.

Hull have demonstrated their determination by making three approaches, while the size of the latest offer creates a decision for Stoke with little more than a day remaining before the window closes.

Thomas remains under contract until 2028, meaning Stoke are under no immediate contractual pressure to sell.

Their sporting circumstances provide another reason for caution.

Robins' side have lost their opening three Championship matches of the season, against Swansea City, Southampton and Wolves, and removing one of their main attacking outlets without a replacement would further weaken a squad already searching for an early response.

For Hull, the calculation is very different.

Sergej Jakirović's side have made an outstanding start following promotion to the Premier League, beating Manchester United 2-0 before recording a 1-0 victory away at Coventry City.

The opening weeks have demonstrated that Hull can compete immediately at the higher level, but their continued activity in the market suggests the club do not intend to rely solely on the squad that secured promotion.

Thomas would add a proven wide attacker capable of creating from both open play and set-piece situations, while his Championship experience and direct style would offer Jakirović another option for a team whose early Premier League success has frequently been built around defensive organisation and fast attacking transitions.

Hull have also seen his quality at close range.

Thomas started against the Tigers in last week's Carabao Cup meeting at the bet365 Stadium and supplied the cross from which Róbert Boženík headed Stoke into the lead. Hull eventually equalised and progressed 5-4 on penalties after the match finished 1-1.

Less than a week later, they are attempting to bring the same player to East Yorkshire.

Thomas joined Stoke in 2025 and quickly established himself as a major attacking figure under Robins. He has continued to start regularly this season despite the Potters' difficult opening run, appearing in each of their first five competitive fixtures.

His potential departure would therefore represent considerably more than a late-window squad transaction for Stoke.

The club would be losing an established starter at precisely the point when time to recruit and integrate a replacement is disappearing.

Liam Millar has previously featured in discussions surrounding Stoke's search for another wide player. Reports have indicated that the Championship side hold an interest in the Canada international, although there is currently no indication that a move has been agreed.

The situation creates an intriguing deadline dynamic.

Millar remains part of Hull's own Premier League squad and scored the winning goal against Coventry on Saturday, yet Stoke's need to replace Thomas could become central to whether Hull are ultimately able to complete their £10 million pursuit.

For now, the significant development is the escalation of Hull's offer rather than an agreement.

Two rejected approaches have not ended their interest.

A third bid has now reached £10 million.

Whether that is enough depends not only on Stoke's valuation of Thomas, but on whether Robins can be given an acceptable replacement before the window shuts.