‘Can’t stay on the bench’: Reported £22m Everton and Newcastle target wants to leave

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Reported Everton, Newcastle United and Leicester City target Bertrand Traore has told L’Etalon he could walk away from Lyon this summer after falling out of favour under Rudi Garcia.

The fact the Burkina Faso international scored as many goals in 2019/20 as he managed during his breakthrough year as a teenager at Chelsea speaks volumes.

Clearly, Traore’s performances dipped dramatically at the Stade OL last season – but the sprightly winger wasn’t helped by the fact Garcia, who arrived at Lyon in October, clearly didn’t fancy him from minute one.

The former Ajax starlet didn’t play a single minute of the Champions League clashes with Juventus, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, while scoring just once in 23 French top-flight appearances.

The Mirror (4 September, page 54) reports Everton, Newcastle, Leicester and Crystal Palace are offering Traore an escape route, while Fulham have had an opening bid of £8 million rejected.

Expect the 25-year-old to grab any opportunity that comes his way after a “complicated” year under Garcia.

“It is true that there is interest. A departure cannot be ruled out,” Traore, who scored 18 times in 2017/18 and 11 the year after, said.

“I have spent three years in Lyon. I had two beautiful years, the third was a bit more complicated. I am 25 years old, I have played everywhere I have been. If my situation in Lyon doesn’t change, I can’t stay on the bench all the time. 

“I need to play. I have no time to waste. I’m no longer an 18, 19 or 20-year-old player. We’ll see what will happen.

“When the coach (Garcia) arrived, things were clear from the start. He put me on the bench for two games in a row. The third game, I was in the stands. I wouldn’t say the message was very clear, but it was pretty clear.”

The Mirror says Lyon want £22 million for the one-time Stamford Bridge starlet – a fee that’s likely to put off potential suitors in an era where funds are at a premium.