Tottenham could face Traore competition as 'Barcelona eye Wolves ace'

Tottenham could face competition for Adama Traore with the Wolves winger ‘wanted by former club Barcelona’ in the final days of the transfer window… but ‘Xavi can only target their La Masia graduate if Ousmane Dembele’s future is resolved’

  • Barcelona are reportedly interested in re-signing Adama Traore this month
  • Xavi has identified the Wolves star as a last-ditch January transfer target
  • But Barca can only make a move if Ousmane Dembele signs a new deal or leaves
  • Dembele doing so would free up salary space to register their La Masia graduate
  • Tottenham are also in the hunt for Traore after seeing a bid rejected last week

Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a January deal for Wolves winger Adama Traore – but a potential move depends heavily on the future of Ousmane Dembele.

Xavi is desperate to strengthen his Barca attack before the winter window draws to a close next week, having lost Ansu Fati to yet another injury for the next three months.

Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata was believed to be his top target, however a deal to bring him to the Nou Camp appears too complicated given he is currently on loan at Juventus from Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a last-gasp January deal for Wolves winger Adama Traore

According to ESPN, with Morata seemingly out of reach Barca have now turned their attention to Traore – the La Masia graduate who left them to join Aston Villa in 2015. 

Catalans chiefs are understood to have held talks with Wolves over a £17million deal to re-sign their former academy star earlier this month.

The news comes as a blow to Antonio Conte, who is reportedly hoping to lure Traore to Tottenham before the January deadline passes.

Spurs saw an initial £15million bid rejected by Wolves last week but were hoping to come back in and reach an agreement with their Premier League colleagues.

Tottenham are also hoping to prise the player away from Wolves before the window closes

Now they could face competition from Barca for his signature, yet only if Dembele signs a new contract or leaves the club first.

Dembele only has five months remaining on his current contract and is yet to put pen to paper on an extension, with Nou Camp officials telling him last week to find a new club before the window closes.

But the France winger’s agent is said to have met with Xavi and sporting advisor Jordi Cruyff to tell them his client still wants to sign a new deal in Catalonia.


But any Barca move for Traore is largely dependent on Ousmane Dembele (left)

Any business Barca complete in the final days of the January window is largely dependent on his contractual situation, as they do not have room within their La Liga-imposed salary cap to register any more signings.

Should he pen an extension, the Spanish outfit can then free up space on their wage bill by spreading out the remaining amortisation payments on his transfer fee and backloading his salary.

And if he leaves, there will also be room for Barca to make a beeline for Traore in the coming days.




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