Bruno Lage has joked Adama Traore’s suitors will have to pay the price for the Wolverhampton Wanderers winger’s first goal of the season.
Bruno Lage said “I went to say, ‘I’m happy with you, it’s an important moment for you.’ After I said something just for him, ‘Now if any team wants you, you’re more valuable because you scored one goal!’”
Traore has been criticised for his lack of end product this season, and he’s been unable to force his way into Lage’s starting line-up in recent weeks. But the Wolves head coach rates the 25-year-old Spain international highly and hopes to keep him at the club.
Bruno Lage said “Adama deserved this goal. He is working hard, he is creating a lot of chances. When he starts he helps the team, when he comes from the bench he helps the team. I have the four wingers and they can give me lots of things because they are different. Adama can play on both sides. Imagine, with Adama, Daniel (Podence), Trincao and Hwang, I can prepare for games in different ways, not only offensively but also defensively in the way we press.”
Spanish star Traore ended a week of speculation over his future at Molineux with the decisive goal in a 3-1 win over Southampton. Tottenham Hotspur are hotly pursuing Traore, while Chelsea and Barcelona have also been linked with the speedy winger. Wolves are open to offers for Traore, who has entered the final 18 months of his contract at Molineux. And after Traore converted in stoppage time against the Saints, Lage walked down the touchline to speak with his attacker.