Ipswich Town are leading League One rivals Sunderland in the race to sign Luke Thomas from Barnsley, according to Gloucester Live.
Black Cats boss Lee Johnson made his feelings clear when he told the Northern Echo at the weekend a left-footed attacker was top priority during the winter window.
So Thomas, a 21-year-old winger who favours his left foot, is understandably high on Sunderland’s wish list.
Particularly with Barnsley coach Valerien Ismael admitting the former Derby County starlet is keen to secure regular first-team football, with a January departure potentially the best-case scenario for all parties (EADT).
But Sunderland have a history when it comes to missing out on inspired signings to third-tier rivals.
A few months after the likes of Luke Garbutt and Scott Fraser joined Blackpool and MK Dons instead, Gloucester Live believes it is Ipswich, not Sunderland, at the front of the queue for Thomas’ signature.
It remains to be seen, however, if Thomas will be available on loan or whether Barnsley would prefer to sell a man they bought for £1.2 million as recently as 2019.
“He offers something very different for us and he showed his skill and speed on the ball during pre-season,” former Derby boss Frank Lampard told Derbyshire Live during Thomas’ time at Pride Park.
“Luke knows there’s plenty of hard work ahead of him as he continues to develop and improve, but he certainly has great potential to have a really good career in the game.”
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