According to Teamtalk, Middlesbrough have enquired about the availability of Adama Traore on a six-month loan deal in the upcoming transfer window.
Boro have lacked attacking substance this season, and have scored the least number of goals in the top half of the Championship table.
We take a look at why the departure of Traore, albeit for six months, could prove to be a huge blow for Wolves as they aim for a strong finish come May.
Why should Wolves keep Adama Traore at the club
Traore initially moved to Wolverhampton in the summer, in a £18 million deal from Middlesbrough, where he made 71 appearances before eventually seeking pastures new.
A former academy graduate of Barcelona, Traore’s arrival at the club was met with huge expectations, with a host of fans claiming that he could be an ideal signing for the Wolves, thanks to his sheer pace and dynamism in the final third.
And the 22-year-old made a quick impact as well, notably yielding a series of promising performances in the early parts of the season. Indeed, the former Barcelona attacker has played the role of a super sub this season, featuring in 14 league matches, 11 of which originated from the bench.
That being said, Traore has made only three starts so far this season, which is pretty unacceptable for a player of his class. And although it may suggest that coach Nuno Espirito Santo is not pleased with his performances thus far, Wolves surely cannot afford to lose his services during the second half of the campaign.
The newly promoted Premier League outfit have already scoured the market for a new attacking midfielder in January, but the departure of Traore will once again cripple the attacking department as his pace often acts as an outlet against teams that see more of the ball.
As a matter of fact, the 22-year-old has notched up some impressive statistics thus far, notably maintaining an exceptional rate of over nine dribbles per 90 mins with an equally impressive success rate of 72%.
Traore also averages nearly two attempts per game, which is an excellent record for someone who has barely been on the end of regular footballing action this season.
Therefore, it can safely be said that Traore does, in fact, play a key role in the Wolves not only by providing the much-needed but also adds the variety in attack. So in essence, shipping out the former Barcelona star might not be a sensible move for the Wolves as they look to finish the campaign on a high note.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
