Sorba Thomas will surely love emerging Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle transfer news | OneFootball

Stoke City look to Thomas-Talovierov combination as key part of summer rebuild.

Stoke City’s summer business is well underway with the arrival of Wales international Sorba Thomas, and it may soon get even better.

The Potters are now pushing to sign towering Plymouth Argyle centre back Maksym Talovierov, a move that could complement Thomas’ strengths and signal a clear shift in the club’s tactical direction under new manager Mark Robins.

Thomas, 26, joins on a three-year contract following a loan spell in Ligue 1 with FC Nantes.

Sorba Thomas set for perfect partnership as Stoke City pursue Maksym Talovierov transfer

Known for his energy and outstanding crossing ability, Thomas brings a record of 29 assists and seven goals in 112 Championship starts - along with growing international pedigree.

During his time in France, he maintained a high percentile for cross accuracy and created three goals in limited appearances.

Meanwhile, reports from journalist Pete O’Rourke suggest Stoke are closing in on Talovierov, a 6’4” Ukrainian defender who joined Plymouth in January for a club-record fee believed to be around £1.5 million.

Despite Argyle’s relegation, Talovierov impressed with dominant aerial displays and smart positioning, including scoring twice from headers - one of his standout attributes.

Should the deal go through, his physicality and aerial prowess make him an ideal target for Thomas’ high-volume, pinpoint deliveries from wide areas.

Maksym Talovierov signing could unlock Sorba Thomas’ assist potential at Stoke City

The potential arrival of Maksym Talovierov would not just bolster Stoke City’s defensive ranks - it could elevate the impact of their marquee summer signing.

With Michael Rose, Enda Stevens and Lynden Gooch all departing this summer, Robins is in need of both reinforcements and tactical clarity.

Talovierov, at 25 and entering his prime, offers the kind of profile Stoke have lacked in recent seasons: a commanding presence who thrives in both penalty boxes.

Thomas’ strength lies in his ability to consistently supply quality from wide areas, particularly from dead-ball situations and open-play crosses.

In Ligue 1, he ranked highly for crossing volume and accuracy, and across his Championship career has proven to be a consistent creator.

With Talovierov’s proven threat on set pieces - both his goals last season came from headers, including an iconic opener against Manchester City - and high proportion of headed shots, the pairing seems tailor-made for Championship success.

Sporting Director Jon Walters described Thomas as “technically excellent with his delivery into the box,” and bringing in a centre-back capable of attacking those deliveries with authority could significantly increase Stoke’s goal threat next season.

As Robins aims to push the club out of the Championship’s bottom half for the first time since their Premier League relegation in 2018, adding synergy and purpose to both ends of the pitch is critical.

The pursuit of Talovierov may not only solve a defensive need - it may be the move that unleashes Sorba Thomas at his creative best.