One of League Two’s most exciting prospects, Jordan Thomas, has been linked with a move away from Cheltenham Town this January window.
With Barnsley being one of the main suitors for the left footed right winger, here are three things that the 24-year-old would provide to a Reds side looking to rekindle their promotion hopes in the second half of the season.
Though Barnsley have had no trouble scoring goals this season, fielding two of the leagues premium attackers in Reyes Cleary and Davis Keillor Dunn, their philosophy going forward has become imbalanced.
The emergence of Cleary as one of the best wide men in the league has led to the majority of Barnsley’s attacks coming down the left making them slightly one dimensional.
Though typically setting up in a 4-3-3, Connor Hourihane has opted for his right winger to play a more central role.
With Caylan Vickers being recalled and Adam Phillips not fulled suited to the role out wide, Thomas would slot into Barnsley’s side perfectly and provide the ideal archetype for Barnsley’s current system.
The signing of Thomas would give Barnsley a strong option down either flank, taking a lot of the attacking burden off Cleary, who is often doubled up on to nullify his ability as an isolated dribbler.
Having both wingers as consistent and reliable avenues of attack would give the Reds a much needed extra outlet going forward, providing more unpredictability and fluidity in possession.
Averaging 2.74 successful dribbles per 90 this season, one of the highest percentile in his class in League 2, Thomas is a traditional carrier who excels at transitioning the ball from the middle to final third.
In a Barnsley side that often relies on structured build-up, he offers a direct route to breaking lines. Pair this with Keillor Dunn’s off ball movement and Cleary’s one on one threat, it creates a front three that all provide a different attacking outlook.
Having the ability to build through midfield in a more direct fashion also disrupts many of the low blocks typical to League 1 football.
Additionally, Thomas isn’t just a perimeter player, recording over 50 touches in the opposition box this season, showing a willingness to get into high value scoring areas rather than just cross from deeper areas.
As mentioned previously, Hourihane likes to deploy his right sided player in more central areas.
Thomas’ ability as both a traditional winger and as a ten means he fits this role much better than Barnsley’s current personnel.
Despite ardently sticking to a 4-3-3 for the entire league campaign so far, a rare switch to a three at the back against Liverpool saw much more robust defensive unit that held out the reigning English champions for much of the game.
This success could see a transition to a back three in the league, something Thomas also suits having a surprisingly high defensive output for an attacker.
In the EFL he ranks in the 96th percentile for defensive contributions, having already recorded 78 recoveries and 32 tackles this season alone.
For a Barnsley side that has often struggled to fully implement a high intensity press, Thomas provides the forward line with a much needed aggression off the ball.
Having him on the pitch would allow for a seamless switch between the two formations, creating potential for on and off ball variation dependant on the opposition.
With his contract expiring in the summer, a reported £250k release clause and other League One clubs reportedly in pursuit of the 24-year-old winger, Thomas represents the low cost, high upside philosophy that Barnsley have adopted.
We’d liken this transfer to that of Reyes Cleary and Patrick Kelly in the summer, both being small gambles on young players that have payed off massively.
Ultimately, Jordan Thomas represents a talent whose profile suggests he is more than ready for the step up to League One.
By blending elite ball carrying and creative output with his defensive contributions, he provides a multifunctional solution for Barnsley going forward.
Whether used to unlock the stubborn low blocks of the third tier or as a first line presser to maintain intensity, Thomas would be a great pick up for a side looking to kick on and finally claw their way back into the Championship.
