Tottenham Hotspur retain an interest in Adama Traore ahead of the January transfer window, according to the Telegraph’s Matt Law…
What’s the word?
It’s believed that manager Antonio Conte will sit down with sporting director Fabio Paratici in the coming days to plan signings for next month and the Wolverhampton Wanderers star is among the likely targets.
The north Londoners were linked with a move for the 25-year-old winger in the summer but were put off by their £40m price tag, as per Spanish publication AS.
But evidently, he remains a target, though it remains to be seen if the Midlands outfit have budged on their asking price at all. Transfermarkt currently value the Spain international at £27m, by comparison.
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An even better Moses?
If this is the case, then it is clear that Paratici is a massive fan of Traore and it would be wise for Conte to get on board with it as he could well discover his next Victor Moses, an even better one at that.
The Italian tactician revived the Chelsea flop’s career by switching his position from a winger to a wing-back and later that season, they won the Premier League together.
“‘At Chelsea, he just came in and changed everything. He is an amazing man; he totally changed my game to be honest,” the 31-year-old Spartak Moscow star once claimed (via the Daily Mail).
Traore’s case would be slightly different in the fact that he has experience playing that very same role, which puts him at a major advantage to Moses at the time.
Similarly, the Spaniard’s attributes would make him a frightening prospect bombing down that right flank for the Lilywhites. He is built like a brick wall and has explosive pace, which regularly causes many a Premier League defence nightmares.
For instance, he leads the whole division for dribbles per game (5.1), just as he did last season.
“He’s a machine. I was watching him pre-game and he could be a powerlifter or a cruiser-weight boxer – he’s huge,” Ferdinand told BT Sport (via BirminghamLive). “He’s powerful and quick and this season he has been scaring defenders. You see teams now trying to double up against him because of the threat he possesses.”
Similarly, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp dubbed him “unplayable” after the Wolves beast wreaked havoc on his backline in May 2020.
Conte’s current right wing-back options, Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty, cannot muster more than 0.8 dribbles per game, which is a stark difference to Traore, who would be a new kind of threat in his 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 system.
His brute strength, physicality and pace means he has the potential to be an even better Moses for the Italian at Tottenham. Paratici and co must look to seal his signature in January.
AND in other news, Imagine him and Conte: Spurs could form frightening duo with “fearless” £18m-rated beast…