According to transfer insider Dean Jones via GiveMeSport, Leeds are still among the Premier League clubs keeping an eye on the contract status of long-term transfer target Adama Traore.
Leeds United’s interest in Adama Traore has been a point of discussion for what seems to be every transfer window since the promotion to the Premier League under previous boss Marcelo Bielsa in 2020 – and with the future contract status of the Spanish winger still up in the air, speculation has re-emerged that Leeds may rekindle their interest in the Wolves man.
Vital Leeds recently discussed the latest around the 26 year old winger, following an update he had given about his future status. At that point it appeared as though he would be finishing out the season at Wolves and would try to prove people wrong and earn a new deal. While not much has changed and it still seems as though he’ll be a Wolves player for the rest of the season, the latest suggestion is that Leeds may follow up on their past pursuits when Traore’s contract is up in the summer.
Leeds have just broken their transfer record with the signing of striker Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim. Despite sitting 15th in the Premier League and close to the relegation zone, attacking options shouldn’t really be the top priority at Elland Road. You would imagine that problems in the defence and a lack of depth in midfield are the areas the Whites would be focusing transfer efforts on next. So what does that mean for Traore and Leeds?
Traore has just 31 goal contributions in 175 games [via Transfermarkt]. Despite being tipped as a special talent, he hasn’t quite excelled to the point that was once anticipated. His physical qualities can’t be undermined, but the end product remains to be seen from his play. In the past he was noted as a ‘Bielsa-type player’, and perhaps the Argentine legend would have been just the man to unlock the winger’s potential. But those days are indeed gone, and it feels like the ship has sailed on this one.
Director of Football at Leeds Victor Orta has previously worked with Traore at Middlesbrough. The pair’s link is part of the reason we see speculation around interest from Leeds from time to time.
While it may not be something that is on the cards right now, if Traore is out of contract at the end of the season, it is a possibility that Leeds look to bring him in as a free agent in the summer. Its still unclear whether Wolves will try to keep him at the club, and with reported interest from other Premier League clubs such as Tottenham, you would imagine there’s a lot that would need to unravel before any firm deal is on the table.
We’ll keep watching this saga closely and keep you posted as we learn more on the Adama Traore and Leeds links.