Transfer News

Interest in Speedy Spaniard Rekindled

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Last night, the reliable pair of Sean Walsh and Graeme Bailey of 90 Min reported that Tottenham Hotspur had not forgotten about Adama Traore’s likely availability, either in January or the summer, due to his contract status at current club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Indeed, Traore’s contract is up in the summer, making him a tantalising, relatively risk-free prospective signing for several clubs, not just in the Premier League, but on the content. As well as Leeds United, Walsh and Bailey report that Napoli, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid are interested in the Spaniard’s services.

Many a reader will no doubt be familiar with our previous ill-fated pursuits of the La Masia graduate, starting with a failed £30 million bid in August 2021 in the infancy of Nuno Espirito Santo’s managerial tenure, followed by Barcelona usurping us to re-sign their former youth player on a loan deal last January, a move that reportedly left Antonio Conte frustrated as time was running out in the winter window.

While Traore has undoubtedly flattered to deceive, for a player of his talent, netting only 13 times in 168 games for Wolves – a sentiment vociferously espoused by many donning the black and gold in their droves in the Black Country, as confided to me by a trucker and Wolves season-ticket holder named Tony who picked me up several months back after my car broke down in the middle of nowhere – there is still very much a player there.

Whether it’s for a cut-price fee in January, or a free transfer in the summer, I would welcome him to Spurs with open arms. For better or worse, he’s an unpredictable presence in the final third, and has the raw pace and physicality that we’re lacking at both ends of the pitch.

For me, he’d have that Kyle Walker effect playing at right wing-back, where, while there would undoubtedly be question marks over his defending and end product (as there were often against Walker prior to his last season at the club), his sheer pace and physical presence would push us up the pitch and keep opponents pegged back, and would be an excellent out-ball against opponents who press us, something we’ve struggled with a lot this season (Chelsea, Arsenal and United away, Newcastle at home).

In addition, he can be utilised as a wing-back, orthodox winger, or even a makeshift centre-forward, as he played to great effect at Wolves’ monumentally impressive win at the Etihad around three years ago.

If that isn’t enough, every time he plays against us, he tends to play a blinder. To take two examples, he contributed immensely to Wolves’ 3-2 win at our place in 2020, and scored a corker in the reverse fixture that season in a match where our defenders simply could not handle him. If anyone can get him back to that form, it’s Antonio Conte…sign him up!

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