Leeds United are reportedly ready to fork out £30 million for Wolves attacker Adama Traore, who is also a target for Liverpool.
Speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast, Duncan Castles has offered an update on the situation of Adama Traore. The Wolves star is tipped to exit Molineux in the summer, and it appears Leeds United have made the first move by submitting £30 million, reports The Sun.
It remains unknown how much Wolves truly value the attack, but Castles added in the Transfer Window Podcast (h/t The Sun) that the player himself is not too keen on moving to Elland Road. A switch to Leeds United is viewed as a “sideways move” by Traore, who instead is determined to join a bigger club in order to play Champions League football next season.
It should serve as a massive boost for Liverpool as they are one of many English clubs interested in the services of Traore. In fact, a recent report earlier this week claimed that the Reds are also weighing up a £30 million move for the Wolves winger. Jurgen Klopp values the player highly due to his pace and aggression that tune in well with the Gegenpressing style of football.
For Leeds United, missing out on Traore might not hurt too much, knowing they already have some quality wide attackers in Jack Harrison, Raphinha. However, Marcelo Bielsa is concerned over the lack of depth in his attacking ranks, especially after the departure of Pablo Hernandez and Ezgjan Alioski.
The Whites have recently roped in Kristoffer Klaesson but are yet to sign a new forward in the summer. It has left Leeds devoid of a proper backup for the likes of Harrison and Raphinha. Current options like Helder Costa, Ian Poveda and Tyler Roberts have shown promise but no consistency, with the former likely to depart Elland Road.
Wolves, meanwhile, have already brought in Trincao from Barcelona, rendering Traore, who endured a difficult 2020/21 campaign, surplus to requirements as new coach Brugo Lage looks to usher in a new era at Molineux.
For Traore himself, it is indeed quite a shrewd decision to hold out for a move to a top club after a disappointing last season that saw him involved in only five goals in 37 matches. But it will be interesting to see whether the Spanish winger later opts to reverse his decision pertaining to Leeds, in case the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea set their sights on other alternatives.
He should think himself lucky there is any PL team that actually want him after how poor he was last season, and his general lack of end product after ‘running very fast’.