The 30-year-old who has struggled for first team action at Upton Park this season would have been an ideal player to step into John Eustace's boots whilst the key midfielder recovers from his latest setback.
It was high wage demands that put off the Potters and Lomas now looks set to join Joe Kinnear at Nottingham Forest in a similar sort of deal to the one Stoke were looking at.
Tony Pulis is now left to rely on his current crop of players so will be heartened by Sebastian Svard's midweek performances which he received great praise for. Pulis also has the option of Clive Clarke who impressed in midfield versus Ipswich and has Lewis Neal returning from injury.