Leeds United could be set to lure one player from a Premier League rival, although they face increasing pressure to do so…
What’s the latest?
That’s according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Napoli have now recorded an interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore.
The Serie A leaders are keen on securing the Spain forward on a free transfer as he enters the final six months of his £46k-per-week deal at Molineux.
Despite this interest, the Whites remain in pole position to land the man who nearly joined Tottenham Hotspur last January in a proposed £20m move.
Leeds’ own Rashford
Although a stigma surrounds Traore’s tenure in the Premier League, it cannot be denied that he instils fear into almost every full-back that he faces.
His unique blend of blistering speed partnered with a strength seldom seen in a winger makes him a physical marvel, with Jetro Willems claiming: “I have played against some very good players in my career, but no one as fast as Adama Traore. He’s unbelievable, a beast.”
Martin Keown has echoed that sentiment, stating: “He has got everything in his game. He’s electric.”
The 26-year-old’s size and speed draw comparisons with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, with FBRef including the Englishman on Traore’s ‘similar players’ metric. This juxtaposition is made even more complimentary when considering the 25-year-old’s World Cup campaign for England.
Despite averaging just 30 minutes per game, the attacker averaged a 7.10 rating throughout the tournament whilst scoring three times, including a wonderful free-kick against Wales.
Often arriving from the bench, Rashford became one of England’s most deadly assets in a run which was halted in the quarter-finals by holders and 2022 finalists France.
Traore did not receive a call-up for the World Cup, having scored just twice this season for his club. Despite this, he still sits in the top 1% for dribbles completed among wingers in Europe’s top five leagues this year, with the suggestion from Joe Edwards being that, when in form, the winger is “almost unstoppable”.
He will never be a prolific option in front of goal, having scored only 13 times in 168 Wolves appearances, but the fear that he provokes and the danger that he causes can create space for his team-mates to exploit. With that in mind, the likes of Rodrigo at centre-forward could thrive if playing alongside him.
Therefore, it could actually be a smart move for Jesse Marsch to swoop for Traore and secure Leeds’ version of England World Cup star Rashford.