Wolverhampton Wanderers are proving the early doubters wrong that they would not be able to cope with the demands of the Europa League, as they occupy seventh in the Premier League having progressed to the knockout stages in Europe. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side deserve all the credit they have gotten for dispelling the Europa League curse and one player, in particular, has raised his level of performance to flourish on both the domestic and European stages.
Adama Traore has been an absolute revelation this season, and the Spaniard is rapidly becoming one of the most potent creative threats in the Premier League. Prior to this campaign, the 24-year-old had three top-flight assists in three seasons, but in a remarkable turnaround, only Kevin De Bruyne and Trent Alexander-Arnold have provided more than Traore’s seven during the 2019/20 campaign. The Wolves winger is level with Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez for goals provided. With a disparity of £42m between the two 2018 transfers, the £18m Wolves spent on the former is beginning to appear to be an absolute bargain.
Manchester City’s Algerian winger has found the back of the net on seven occasions as well, while Traore has four strikes, though that is four times the amount he registered last term. Mahrez is also part of the Premier League top scorer’s squad, with Pep Guardiola’s side averaging over 2.7 goals a game, while Wolves have averaged 1.4. Traore has played a part in 31.4 per cent of his sides’ Premier League goals this term, a vastly increased influence in the final third considering his previous best had been a goal and an assist during an entire season.
The Spaniard is also the leading dribbler per game in Europe’s top five leagues, holding off competition from Neymar and Lionel Messi, by averaging 5.7 runs around opponents per 90 minutes. Overall, Traore has remarkably increased his level of attacking output to cement his importance to Nuno and the entirety of Wolves’ squad.
While his manager must take some of the credit for his coaching ability, the 24-year-old deserves praise for making the bold choice of leaving Barcelona to pave his way in the Premier League. It hasn’t been instant, but Traore is en route to realising his enormous potential, and by doing so Wolves have grabbed themselves a bargain.
