Fabio Paratici and Nuno Espirito Santo have thrown their nets far and wide as they look to strengthen Tottenham’s squad this summer, with apparently no major European league outside the borders.
Incomes from Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga are all either rumored or already confirmed, but the answer to one of their biggest problem positions – right-wing forward – may be much closer than they think.
Adama Traore’s ability to run in time with the ball is second to none / Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images
Adama Traore was signed by Nuno for Wolves as early as 2018, and despite some dental problems, the Spaniard got a glimpse of the world-class talent who has seen Liverpool and Chelsea previously credited with an interest in him.
A reunion between the pair at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been talked about too late, with newly appointed Wolves boss Bruno Lage eager to put his own stamp on the Wolves squad and then open to a plethora of big name departures.
Obviously, there are many areas in the Spurs squad that need attention in the coming weeks, but the addition of Traore to the right of their top three would be a big step forward for a club that wants to challenge for Champions League football once again.
The partnership between Harry Kane and Son Heung-min is the only reason why Tottenham even got a seventh place last season, with the former role as the main character in an ongoing transfer story that threatens to throw the club in the middle of the table.
Many have tried to fill the void to the right of Spurs’ three front, with Steven Bergwijn and Gareth Bale most recently trying to balance Tottenham’s front line, but none of them could match the quality of the aforementioned duo on a consistent basis.
Suggesting that Traore may be the answer to inconsistency may sound ridiculous to those who take the word of experts and commentators as gospel, but anyone who regularly watches the jet-heeled edger will be aware of the lack of end product that he regularly struck with is a pure myth.
Adama Traore is one of the most feared edges in the league / Jan Kruger / Getty Images
Traore is a player – like many others – who must be sure to play to the best of his ability. Without confidence, he is little more than a front-runner who is almost afraid to show off his talents for fear of failure.
To get the most out of the Spanish international, a manager needs to show the greatest possible faith in his ability, first and foremost by making sure he is the key to his future plans and secondly by playing him in his preferred position.
Nuno will already know this after seeing the battles Traore endured during his time in Molineux when he was used as a percussionist or asked to play in an unknown wingback role, and therefore this experience of the edge temperament should see Nuno well equipped to get the best of the Spaniard if he were to move to Spurs.
Tottenham have already started looking for the lack of depth in their front line after securing the appreciation of the younger Bryan Gil, but the fact that the shoes of a left-handed player on the right will not increase the balance in their striking power that they have cried for.
Not only would Traore solve that problem, he is also one of the few players in the Premier League who can keep up with Son on the opposite flank when Tottenham break pace – an aspect of their game that will prove crucial in their attempt to regain their place in the top four.
The idea that Son and Traore break up teams before taking chances on a plate for Kane is enough to send shivers down Spurs’ rivals – and if Kane leaves, they could probably drive Vincent Janssen back to north London and even he would succeed in scoring. with the amount of chances he would be given.
Traore is much closer to the finished article than most experts give him credit for. The trick is to know where and how to play him, and after spending three years figuring this out, Nuno could be the man who unlocks his world-class potential at Spurs.
