Wolverhampton Wanderers Close In On Spanish Speedster: Final Piece Of The Jigsaw?

According to a recent report by Birmingham Live, Middlesbrough’s Adama Traore is on the verge of being lured to the Molineux Stadium by Wolverhampton Wanderers. The newly promoted Premier League outfit have to dig into their pockets and roll out £18million to secure the deal and there is no denying that he would be a healthy addition to Wolves’ ranks.

Background

Traore emerged through Barcelona’s renowned La Masia youth academy but he couldn’t carve a notable position for himself in the senior side of Barca. In the summer of 2016, he moved to the Riverside Stadium after a season with Aston Villa and was a vital cog in the ranks of the Smoggies last season. Besides, he has represented Spain’s Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 sides.

Attributes

The 22-year-old is a winger who is capable of operating on either flank. With his raw pace being his strongest suit, he has the stamina to toil relentlessly up and down the pitch and has an exceptional eye to create openings for his team. As expected from a well-recognized wide man, his dribbling ability and his penchant to isolate his marker are his main qualities.

He is hard to mark and his new found willingness to link up with his full-back has added another dimension to his game. However, he is far from being a finished product. He has been criticized time and again for his lack of defensive contributions and his final product leaves a lot to be desired. However, he is still young and in what is a positive sign, he has shown glimpses of improvement over the course of the last season.

A Solid Summer

Under the tutelage of Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves got themselves promoted to the top flight but the Portuguese manager needs the right personnel in his camp to make an impact this season. He has been very active this summer in beefing up his ranks, having already made some high-profile signings such as Joao Moutinho, Willy Boly and Diogo Jota.  And by the looks of it, he is not done yet.

Why Wolves Need Him?

Wolves played free-flowing attacking football last term in the Championship and they are likely to attempt the same in the Premier League. Goals and creativity from the wide areas would be beneficial for them, something Traore has the calibre to provide.

The Spaniard scored 5 goals and garnered 10 assists in 36 league appearances last season. He proved his attacking chops in the second division and is likely to be tempted by the opportunity to ply his trade in the Premier League once again.

Statistics Credits: WhoScored