Martin Keown has urged Arsenal to enter and win the Adama Traore transfer race after the reported Tottenham Hotspur target scored in Wolves’ win over Southampton on Saturday.
Bruno Lage’s side beat the Saints 3-1 at Molineux with goals from Raul Jimenez, Conor Coady and Traore. James Ward-Prowse offered Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men a glimmer of hope of a late comeback by scoring in the 84th-minute. But Traore struck in stoppage-time.
Traore’s effort was the 25-year-old’s first goal in the Premier League this season after 19 appearances. He had failed to find the back of the net in 1,045-minutes of top-flight action.
The Spaniard is also yet to provide an assist this season, leading Lage to start him from the bench. Southampton marked the 10th match in which Traore has featured as a substitute.
But he responded brilliantly to blazing a chance over the bar to open his account for goals. Traore showed composure in the box to slot home in stoppage-time and move Wolves up to eighth in the table. Lage’s side now trail Arsenal in fifth-place by just four-points.
Keown urges Arsenal beat Tottenham to transfer with Wolves for Traore
Traore’s effort to seal Wolves’ win over Southampton is bound to gain interest from clubs around the Premier League. Multiple sides are reportedly considering mid-season moves to sign the £43k-a-week forward, who is out of contract in 2023.
Keown, however, would urge Arsenal to enter and win any transfer race for Wolves’ Traore in January. The eight-cap dynamo’s overall performance impressed the Gunners icon, who was full of praise on BBC’s Final Score (15/01, 16:55):
“I feel Traore is awesome at times and just for once, we have the satisfaction of seeing it. It’s a lovely finish from him. I’d sign him if I was a manager. Arsenal – get in and buy him!”
Arsenal entering the transfer race for Wolves winger Traore would see Mikel Arteta rival Tottenham for a deal. TEAMtalk report Spurs are in talks as Antonio Conte wishes to turn the £20m forward into his new right-back. They have also offered four players in exchange.
Journalist Dean Jones also claims Chelsea are interested in the former Barcelona prospect. But The Telegraph report Traore wants to leave Wolves in the January transfer window for Tottenham, so Arsenal may have to convince him to join if they adhere to Keown’s advice.
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