Why Adama Traore is the most in-form winger in the Premier League.
Adama Traore has taken the Premier League by storm this season for Nuno Espírito Santo’s Wolverhampton Wanderers. Having been schooled at La Masia, Traore isn’t your typical Barcelona youth product in the mould of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Cesc Fàbregas and Sergio Busquets. Pass and move, tiki taka cogs. Adama Traore is a ball carrying machine, who’s dribbling is comparable to other Barcelona graduates.
Traore’s breaking of this mould is arguably the reason for his move to Aston Villa in 2015 for £9 million pounds, after not being suited to Barca’s structured tiki taka style. Adama Traore spent three seasons in English football. Playing at Aston Villa & Middlesbrough in the Premier League and Championship – before joining Nuno Espírito Santo’s Wolves side in 2018. The 24 year old Spaniard’s time at Middlesbrough wasn’t the most productive in terms of goals & assists. Adama Traore ended his time at Boro with just five goals in 61 league games for the Northern side. However, there was evidently a massive improvement in his combination play with the likes of Raul Jimenez, goals and assists and Traore’s ball carrying on the pitch. Adama Traore attempted eight more dribbles (303) than he completed short passes (295) in the 2017/18 Championship.
This season we have seen him give Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool a lot of trouble. At both Premier League games he was a nightmare for the Liverpool midfield & defence. Carrying the ball across the pitch really well and managing to find Raul Jimenez for a goal in an impressive home performance against the European Champions. Pep Guardiola’s side also had to face the in form winger, managing to win a penalty for his side and grabbing a goal at the Molineux staduim.
Managing an impressive 0.5 direct goal contribution per game in the Premier League this season, Traore has shown productivity in the hardest of leagues in European club football.
Is Adama Traore the best winger in the Premier League?
Statman Dave 