Barcelona ramp up pursuit of Adama Traore deal, but Wolves take issue with mooted transfer route
Barcelona are reportedly keen on signing Wolves star Adama Traore permanently, but will have to find a solution as to how the transfer will happen.
Traore endured a decent period of his career with Wolves. Indeed, he impressed in the Premier League following an £18million move from Championship outfit Middlesbrough in 2018.
The Spaniard’s pace and power led to some impressive performances in the English top flight. Traore contributed to 13 league goals in the 2019/20 season.
He struggled for minutes under Bruno Lage this term, though, making just 10 starts in the league. As such, he made the loan switch back to his boyhood club, Barcelona, following speculation over a move to Tottenham.
The winger hit the ground running, with two assists in his first two games. Sport reports that his integration into the Barca squad is ‘total’.
As such, La Blaugrana are keen on making Traore’s loan move permanent, and ‘have given the go-ahead’. However, they do not want to pay a fee, and are keen on him joining for free.
That opens the side up to a few options regarding how the deal may be done. One potential option is a straight swap, with Traore heading to Barca, and Wolves’ loanee Francisco Trincao heading to Molineux permanently.
That may be difficult, though, given Wolves ‘have many doubts’ over the winger, who scored his first league goal for the club in the recent 3-2 loss to Leeds United.
Ruben Neves could leave Wolves this summer
If Wolves don't qualify for European football this summer, Ruben Neves could leave.
Another avenue would be for Traore’s loan to be extended for another year, and Barcelona taking him for free at the conclusion.
Wolves would likely take issue to that, too, given they would be losing out on Troare for no fee, with nothing in return. As such, they will have to find a solution that all parties are happy with for the move to happen.
Wolves are reportedly keen on Riqui Puig. A deal for the youngster could make the Traore transfer run more smoothly, but there have been no formal talks as yet.
Traore and Marcal could move on
In other news, Wolves could see left-back Marcal move on from the club. The 33-year-old has been linked with a move to Brazilian side Botafogo.
Talks between the two parties are reportedly ‘moving forward well’, per journalist Thiago Franklin.
Given Marcal’s contract is up soon, he would likely be able to move on for no fee.
Amid his fringe role in the side, though, that should not be too much of a concern for the Molineux outfit.
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