Tottenham Hotspur are set to miss out on the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore, with a move to Barcelona now close.
That’s according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who claims that Traore’s proposed move to Tottenham is now ‘all-but over’.
Ornstein claims that Traore was unsure about moving Tottenham because of the role he was expected to play under Antonio Conte.
Conte wanted Traore to play as a right wing back, a role he occasionally played in at Wolves under Nuno Espirito Santo.
That didn’t fit in with what Traore wanted, and whilst talks between Wolves and Tottenham were fairly positive, Traore seems to have made his mind up.
Instead Traore looks to be nearing a move to Barcelona. The Spanish giants are close to signing Traore on loan with a view to a €35million (£29million) permanent move.
Given that Traore is out of contract at the end of next season, this actually seems like a fairly good deal for Wolves.
Traore, 26, has been in and out of the Wolves side this season and only scored his first goal of the campaign against Southampton earlier this month.
This means Traore is heading back to Barcelona, a club that is already very close to the winger’s heart.
Traore was born in Catalunya and spent 11 years in the Barcelona ranks, rising through La Masia before being sold to Aston Villa in 2015.
The chance to return to Barcelona may only come along once in a lifetime, and Traore is nearing that move.
Branded ‘electric’ by Martin Keown, Traore has the pace, strength and dribbling ability to cause any defence problems.
Traore would have given Tottenham are more attacking option than Emerson Royal at wing back, but he just doesn’t want to play there.
That leaves Tottenham scrambling and going back to the drawing board ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.
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