Transfer News: Chelsea backed as favourites to sign Adama Traore ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool
According to SkyBet (h/t Burnley Express), Chelsea are ‘favourites’ to land Adama Traore ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool.
The Wolves winger is likely to cost around £30million. He had a stellar 2019/20 season with Wolverhampton Wanderers where he grabbed 6 goals and 12 assists, but that number has gone down.
Traore only managed 3 goals and 3 assists this season in 41 appearances. Those numbers are underwhelming and it wouldn’t be a huge blow for the Reds if they were to miss out.
There is, however, a need for a backup winger at the club. While Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are pinned starters under Jurgen Klopp, they could be absent for a few weeks during the season due to AFCON in 2022.
Reds looking for a winger
Diogo Jota is there in the squad to fill up one of those positions but Xherdan Shaqiri has seemingly not earned the German manager’s trust in order to be starting so regularly.
And that is why the Reds are in the market for a winger, with Leeds forward Raphinha also eyed by the club. Klopp complimented Traore recently, with him claiming that the Spaniard’s speed is ‘undefendable‘ at times.
Traore is still 25 and has a number of footballing years still left in him. But it remains to be seen if Liverpool would be willing to splash a big chunk of money on a backup winger.
The Reds have already completed the signing of RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate. With central defence now sorted, midfield and attack are the areas where the club can potentially strengthen.
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With Georginio Wijnaldum not renewing his Liverpool deal and Liverpool’s African wingers potentially departing for AFCON, Klopp should look to make sure that these positions are adequately backed up.