Leeds United: Victor Orta ready to make new bid for Wolves forward Adama Traore
Leeds United director of football Victor Orta is ready to attempt to sign Wolves attacker Adama Traore this summer, according to TeamTalk.
The football news website reported on 16 June that Traore, 26, has “made it clear to Wolves” that he won’t be signing a new contract at Molineux with his existing deal set to expire at the end of the upcoming 2022/23 season.
It is understood that Tottenham are also interested in the Spain international, who spent the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Barcelona, and that Wolves would accept £20million – or less – for the ex-Aston Villa man.
TeamTalk adds that Traore could be seen as a replacement for Raphinha at Elland Road with the Brazilian strongly linked with a move away from West Yorkshire.
No, thanks
What is it with Traore being linked with Leeds?
It’s an easy link to make due to the fact he was at Middlesbrough when Orta was in the boardroom on Teesside. But the speculation surrounding the Spaniard with a move to Elland Road is tedious and predictable.
It’s not going to happen.
And even if Phil Hay or Sky Sports came out and said that Leeds are actually keen on Traore, we still wouldn’t want him.
Why? Because he would be a massive downgrade on Raphinha and potentially just as bad as Helder Costa has been for the Whites.
Traore has played 160 times in the Premier League and scored just eight goals. His record of 16 assists is also completely embarrassing for a forward who bursts up the pitch with a lot of pace, is able to brush of defenders easily and work his way into the box or get a cross over.
Technically, he’s appalling and to see him link as a potential replacement for Raphinha is an insult to the great Brazilian, who took just 35 Premier League appearances at Leeds to match Traore’s goalscoring record in England’s top-flight.
For someone – maybe a Championship club or a club in the MLS – he’d be a good signing.
For a club in the Premier League, he’d be useless.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have verbally agreed a deal for a Spanish club to make a windfall due to a 20 per cent transfer clause.