Towards the end of January, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Adama Traoré joined Barcelona on a loan deal until the end of the season, and had an instant impact for the La Liga side.
Xavi Hernández handed the winger starts in the first two matches after his move. He repaid the coach’s faith by registering an assist in each of those matches. Since then, the 26-year-old has only had 116 minutes of action in the league across five matches, that includes only one start.
A ‘confidential’ report from today’s Sport explains Traoré’s integration into the Blaugrana dressing room is ‘total’ and his ‘communion’ with the fans at the Camp Nou is ‘noticeable’.
Xavi is using the Spain international as a ‘catalyst for his power’. However, the Wolves owned man is seen more as a squad player rather than an ‘undisputed starter’ for the Catalan club.
Therefore, Barca have made it clear to Traoré’s camp he will only continue beyond this term, if the ‘operation is free for the club’. Sport explains Jorge Mendes has been aware of this since January and is ‘working on it to make all parties happy’.
Another Mendes client, Francisco Trincão is on loan at Wolves from Barcelona. The first option would be to carry out a direct swap deal involving the Portuguese attacker and Traoré.
Barca have already ‘given the go-ahead’ for this operation, but the super-agent will have to ‘work hard’ to carry out this deal as Bruno Lage’s side have ‘many doubts’ about Trincão.
Wolves ‘want’ Riqui Puig, but there is ‘nothing advanced’ with regards to this specific deal.
Another option would be for the Premier League side to extend Traoré’s deal by one more year and allow him to join Barcelona on a free season-long loan deal in the summer.
If Xavi’s side have to pay €30m to sign him, then Traoré ‘will not continue’ at the Camp Nou.
