Wolves

Wolves

Premier League • England

Bruno Lage pours cold water on exit talk for Wolves star who offers ‘different dynamics’

Wolves winger Adama Traore

Wolves boss Bruno Lage insists Adama Traore is happy at the club and wants to keep the winger ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.

Traore has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Molineux after previously refusing to pen an extension. What’s more, as per the Express & Star, there is no prospect of a new deal. They claimed last month that “no conversations” have been had with Wolves over a new deal and the player still had no no intention of signing one.

Traore’s exit from Molineux had been expected this summer with Leeds, Everton, West Ham and Tottenham all reportedly interested.

Spurs reignited their interest in Traore in January. But a late offer from Barcelona saw the winger opt to rejoin his boyhood club. However, there has been talk of another effort from Antonio Conte to land the 26-year-old.

Lage though has played down talk of a transfer for a player, who scored his first goal for Wolves since January in Tuesday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Preston.

In fact Lage believes the Spanish star is settled at the club.

Lage said: “You can see that by the way he is training and playing. I can see that every day.

“When I look back in January, it was an important moment. We accepted the decision to go to Barcelona because it’s his team and now he is with us. I’m happy with him and the signals he has given to me and within the games shows he’s happy with us.

“We want players who can give us different dynamics. We understand what he can give us.”

Lage looking to build momentum after cup win

Lage is hoping to build on the success over Preston as they go in search of their first Premier League win.

“It was not just the Preston game, but also the Tottenham game. It was a good week for us, two good performances by us, the signs are there. And now we are in a moment when we don’t have much time for training. We don’t have much time to prepare the team in a better way. But it’s hard work and we are doing that.

“There were good signals in those two performances, good signals in the players who didn’t do the pre-season but they are coming back and playing 60 minutes in a good level, like Semedo, Joao [Moutinho], Raul [Jimenez] and Adama [Traore], players who just arrived in one week are also giving good signals – Guedes and Matheus [Nunes], and even Jose [Sa], he didn’t do the pre-season and now he’s recovered to his level.

“But we are in a good moment and we need to give rhythm to everyone, preparing the team to play in the different system like we have been working on since day one with these players, while at the same time preparing for games.”