Martin O’Connor claims the value of Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore has ‘gone down’

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Wolverhampton Wanderers will be playing in Europe next season.

Former Birmingham City midfielder Martin O’Connor is adamant that the value of Wolves winger Adama Traore has ‘gone down’ this season.

The 23-year-old signed for promoted Wolves last summer when he made an £18 million switch from Middlesbrough [BBC Sport] – at the time, it was a club record fee for the player.

But he has struggled to prove his worth in the Premier League for a Wolves team that has finished in the top seven and was in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Speaking to BBC’s West Midlands Football-Phone-in, BBC Sport pundit O’Connor had his say on Traore and the areas Wolves need to bulk up in next term.

“They need to improve the strength of their squad,” O’Connor told BBC Radio WM. “I think they need to look at the defensive situation as well. Get a quality defender in – Bennett would be a squad player.

On Traore: “You wouldn’t buy him for £18 million now. His value has gone down. If you’re a Premier League manager, are you going to pay £18 million for him? No, I don’t think you would.”

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have more than showcased their worth this season as they have finished in a European spot, gone on a cup run, played attacking football and picked up a number of big wins.

Added with that, Nuno has done it with a relatively small squad, but that may have to change next term as his team aim to qualify for the Europa League group stages.

Not only that, given their success in the league, other teams will respect them a lot more and they will be a marked team, which will make things a lot more difficult for them.