Does Adama Traore have missing ingredient Slaven Bilic needs at West Ham?

Follow us on Google Discover

After securing Premier League safety West Ham United will now be turning their attentions to the summer transfer window.

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic

Slaven Bilic has already been heavily linked with a host of moves for the likes of Joe Hart, Jordan Pickford, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe.

His side has failed to live up to lofty expectations this season after a stunning farewell campaign at the Boleyn Ground.

A bigger pitch at the Olympic Stadium and lack of real athletes possessing the kind of pace needed to thrive in the Premier League have been highlighted as reasons behind West Ham’s disappointing season.

Only Michail Antonio fits the bill in that respect and the club have struggled as an attacking force when he has been out injured.

The Hammers are in desperate need of more pace next season to exploit the extra space and Bilic could solve it by finally getting the best out of a player who has suffered back-to-back relegations.

Adama Traore has dazzled with his outrageous pace for both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough in the last two seasons.

Middlesbrough’s Adama Traore has bags of pace and potential

But his lack of end product have been his undoing and the reason he did not make the grade at Barcelona.

Could Bilic finally be the manager to get the best out of the explosive winger, though, in the same way Antonio Conte looks to have done with former Hammers loanee Victor Moses at Chelsea.

With the likes of Manuel Lanzini providing the creative influence, West Ham would provide a formidable test with Antonio on one flank and Traore the other.

Michail Antonio is one of West Ham’s top players

And if Bilic can get the best out of the Middlesbrough flop like he has done with Antonio then things could start looking up for the club next season, especially if they can also bring in a couple of top strikers.

Traore cost Boro £10million and would likely be available for a knock-down fee after their relegation to the Championship was confirmed by the 3-0 defeat to champions-elect Chelsea on Monday night.

Bilic will have seen first hand what Traore can do when he is on song after the Spaniard put in his best display of the season in the home defeat to the Hammers earlier this season.