Why Wrexham should sign Huddersfield Town's Sorba Thomas - There are 3 clear reasons | OneFootball

With Sorba Thomas likely to leave Huddersfield this summer, we explore three reasons as to why Wrexham should sign the attacker.

Wrexham's meteoric rise to the Championship has been nothing short of historic. Ahead of next term, the club are aiming to sustain their momentum and compete in the second tier.

Well-thought-out and strategic signings are essential this summer. A standout candidate is Huddersfield Town's Sorba Thomas, with the dynamic forward surely set for a departure this summer following the Terriers' failed attempt at bouncing back to the Championship.

Returning from a loan spell in France with Ligue 1 side Nantes, the 26-year-old Welsh international is keen to kickstart his career in English football once again, and there are three clear reasons as to why Wrexham should prioritise bringing him on board.

Sorba Thomas brings elite Championship creativity

While goals are often the defining factor when looking at an attacking player, the record of Thomas tells a different story. It is his creative spark that makes him a valuable acquisition for any club at Championship level.

Prior to his move to France, Thomas led the Championship with 123 chances created and topped the charts with 148 successful crosses. His expected assists (xA) stood at an impressive 13.3, surpassing his actual tally of nine assists, pointing in the direction that opportunities provided by Thomas were often not capitalised on.

In League One, Wrexham’s top assisters, Ryan Barnett (9 assists) and James McClean (7 assists) both significantly outperformed their expected assist figures of 6.7 and 6.5, respectively. This suggests that their numbers were boosted more by the clinical finishing of their teammates than by consistently creating high-quality chances.

In contrast, Sorba Thomas registered fewer assists than his expected tally, indicating that his underlying creativity is more reliable and repeatable. The implication is clear: while Barnett's and McClean's output may not be sustainable, Thomas offers a level of chance creation that’s less dependent on others and more likely to deliver over time, while also likely to improve in a side that naturally creates chances.

Integrating Thomas into Wrexham's squad would inject a high-calibre creative force and would offer a big step up as the club prepares for life in the Championship.

Sorba Thomas' versatility and tactical fit

A significant asset of Thomas is his adaptability. Primarily operating from the right flank, the 26-year-old is also capable of playing on the opposite side.

However, the most versatile element of his game is that he can also operate centrally. In Phil Parkinson's 3-5-2 formation, it Thomas would carry the potential to operate as an all-action, more advanced midfielder, while potentially being flanked by the aforementioned McClean and Barnett.

The option is also there to see Thomas used as somewhat of a 'second striker', much like how Jay Rodriguez was utilised by Parkinson last term. This would see him operate in a very 'free' role in which a player of his ability could thrive.

The Welshman would take the overall technical level of the side to a new level, and with his creativity in mind, there is the opportunity to see this made use of across multiple positions, either out wide or in more central zones.

Sorba Thomas is an affordable acquisition with high upside

Despite his proven track record in the second tier, Thomas was available for 4 million euros (£3.3m) should Nantes have made his move permanent, a modest fee for a player of his calibre.

At 26 years of age, Thomas is entering the prime years of his career, offering both immediate impact and potential resale value.

Given Wrexham's transfer strategy that has seen the club linked with names such as Tom Cairney and Jonny Evans, focusing on a prudent signing in Thomas could be a financially sound move that yields significant on-field dividends.

Securing Sorba Thomas would be a strategic masterstroke for Wrexham. His exceptional creativity, positional versatility, and affordability make him an ideal candidate to bolster the squad as they navigate the tough waters of the Championship.

A move to a Welsh club would also do no harm to the forward's future national team chances under Craig Bellamy, and with Thomas in their ranks, Wrexham would not only enhance their attacking options but also signal their intent to establish themselves firmly at this level.