Luke Thomas reportedly nears West Ham move despite hinting at Derby stay

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West Ham United have reportedly made a new bid to sign Derby County’s Luke Thomas.

Luke Thomas appeared to hint that he was staying at Derby County this summer amid reports of a move to West Ham United.

Taking to his official Twitter account, the Rams’ Young Player of the Year posted an end of season message signed off with the rather telling line ‘See you next season’.

But will he? According to Gloucester Live, Thomas’s potential switch to the London Stadium has now moved one step closer with West Ham making an improved bid of £1.2 million.

It remains to be seen whether this apparent U-turn has something to do with the sudden departure of Derby manager Gary Rowett to Championship rivals Stoke City. After all, Rowett handed Thomas his first-team debut last season.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who moved to Derby from Cheltenham Town in 2016, stood out in the club’s U23 side last season. He netted six goals in 17 appearances for the reserves and could be tasked with trying to impress the new West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini next season.

The Chiliean, who was appointed on a three-year deal worth around £7 million a year, is renowned for his free-flowing attacking football which may suit Thomas’s style more than the rather pragmatic approach favoured by Rowett.