Leeds United chief Victor Orta is positioning the Whites to rival Tottenham Hotspur for the transfer of Adama Traore. He is eager to seal a reunion with the Wolves winger in January.
That is according to TEAMtalk, which reports Orta is driving the Elland Road outfit’s pursuit of Traore this month. He was the one behind the forward’s switch to Middlesbrough from Aston Villa in 2016. Wolves then raided Teesside thanks to his £18m release clause in 2018.
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Traore is now nearing the end of the five-year contract that he agreed to sign upon moving to Molineux, though. His £55k-a-week terms will lapse on June 30 and he is not close to an agreement over an extension. Instead, he is set to leave for free at the end of this season.
Wolves failing to agree on a new contract with Traore has alerted a number of teams, such as Leeds and Tottenham, to his potential availability for a transfer. The 26-year-old is keen to stay in the Premier League should his run in the West Midlands come to an end, as well.
Orta hopes his never-fading desire to reunite with Traore helps Leeds secure a transfer for the Wolves winger. But Spurs are also long-term fans of the forward and will strive to be in the mix for his signature. Even though the eight-cap speedster is a bit-part star for Wolves.
Orta is positioning Leeds to rival Tottenham for Traore’s transfer from Wolves
Traore has started just six of his 15 Premier League appearances so far this season and has scored one goal. Julen Lopetegui is also yet to start the forward, who turns 27 on January 25, since replacing Bruno Lage in charge. Traore has started in one of his past five outings.
Nonetheless, Traore’s contractual situation at Wolves has caught the transfer interest of a raft of teams, including Leeds and Tottenham. Karadeniz Gazete reports that Trabzonspor have approached the Barcelona product’s agent, Jorge Mendes, over a switch to Turkey.
Mendes has also contacted Napoli to offer the winger to the Serie A leaders, according to Calciomercato. But 90min has also cited Leeds and Tottenham’s interest in keeping Traore in the Premier League. Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is a big fan of the 5 ft 10 attacker.
Traore could have a lot to offer Leeds or Tottenham with a transfer from Wolves during the January sales. Jurgen Klopp once lauded the forward as ‘unplayable’ after being a constant thorn in the side of his Liverpool squad. A trait that Jesse Marsch or Conte may appreciate.
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