Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly plotting talks regarding the future of forward Adama Traore, with the Spaniard currently on the periphery under manager Bruno Lage.

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who revealed discussions may well take place when club action is halted by the start of the World Cup, with a decision to be made over a potential January exit for the 26-year-old.

The transfer insider stated: “The way I understand it is that talks are going to take place during the World Cup break.

“They want to see what happens for him and the team between now and when the Premier League goes on pause. That will basically dictate whether he is on the move in January or not.”

The former Middlesbrough man – who signed for the Old Gold on an £18m deal back in 2018 – has just under a year remaining on his existing deal at Molineux, with a potential move in the winter window having been touted of late.

Lage must ditch

The explosive forward only returned to the Midlands side over the summer having spent the second half of last season on loan at former club Barcelona, with the Catalan outfit opting against triggering the option to buy included as part of that temporary deal.

Now back at his parent club, the £13.5m-rated speedster has failed to earn a start under Lage in the Premier League thus far, making just four substitute appearances as a sign of his fall down the pecking order.

In truth, despite the winger’s “unique” talents – as described by journalist Liam Keen – the Spain international has seemingly flattered to deceive during his time at Wolves to date, with few tears set to be shed if he is to depart any time soon.

While a player loved by supporters and neutrals alike for his devastating strength and speed on the counter, as well as his innate ball-carrying ability – which sees him rank in the top 1% among his peers across Europe’s top five leagues for dribbles completed – there has rarely been the end product to go with it.

A figure who has “amazed and frustrated in equal measure” – in the words of Keen – Traore has scored just 12 goals and provided only 18 assists in 159 games for the club thus far, including just eight top-flight goals in that time.

That is a rather measly return for any forward player let alone someone with the £43k-per-week man’s obvious skillset, with Lage and co having seemingly lost patience with his failings in the final third, hence his inability to secure a starting berth.

As former England boss Sam Allardyce predicted upon the eight-cap gem’s arrival at Molineux, he has simply struggled for consistency throughout the past four years, with such an erratic talent hard to rely on for any manager.

Facing the prospect of losing him for nothing next summer, the club must act ruthlessly and cash in during the winter window.