KEY POINTS

  • Juventus, Man City are reportedly ahead in the race to sign Adama Traore
  • Wolves have labeled Traore with an asking price of $112 million
  • Traore has scored four goals and registered nine assists this season

Manchester City and Juventus reportedly have gone ahead of FC Barcelona in the race to sign Wolves forward Adama Traore, who is also Liverpool FC’s target ahead of the summer transfer window.

Wolves are currently placed sixth in the Premier League table and if they fail to qualify for the Champions League for the next edition, Traore is expected to leave Nuno Espirito Santo's team. Wolves need to finish the 2019-20 Premier League season in the top four to play the European tournament next season.

Traore moved to Wolves from Middlesbrough on a $22 million deal in summer 2018. Having scored four goals and registered nine assists -- second only to City's Kevin De Bruyne this season, Traore is one of the most improved players in the Premier League. Wolves reportedly quoted $112 million for the 24-year-old forward.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with Traore ahead of the upcoming transfer window and he is considered to be a perfect fit in Jurgen Klopp’s attacking style of play. However, Wolves’ asking price for the player could be a put off for The Reds, who are known to have a budget transfer committee.

ESPN has reported that with three years left on Traore’s Wolves contract, he would remain at Molineux next campaign if the club can bag a Champions League spot either through Premier League or by triumphing in the Europa League.

The report has further disclosed that if Wolves failed to clinch a Champions League spot, Juventus are prepared to make a move to sign Traore at the upcoming transfer market after Barcelona have made it clear that they can attempt to sign the player only in 12 months since their current focus is on selling a few Nou Camp players at the end of the 2019-20 season.

It is understood that Juventus are looking to reduce the average age of their attacking department, with Cristiano Ronaldo (35), Juan Cuadrado (32) and Douglas Costa (29) all approaching the twilight of their careers.

Mallorca's clash with Barcelona was played out in an empty stadium in the Balearic Islands as La Liga continued its return from a three-month shutdown
Mallorca's clash with Barcelona was played out in an empty stadium in the Balearic Islands as La Liga continued its return from a three-month shutdown AFP / JAIME REINA

Traore would be interested in Barcelona because he had started his youth career with the Catalans’ B side before being sold to Aston Villa in 2015. However, a move back to Nou Camp will only be possible if the young striker spends another season at Wolves.

On the other hand, Man City are on a hunt for a winger to replace Leroy Sane, who recently switched to Bayern Munich and the four-time Premier League winners have identified Traore as a possible replacement.

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