Adama Traore must accept his fate as an impact sub after f***ing up Wolves contract chance

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly unlikely to open contract negotiations with winger Adama Traore until the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

Traore volleyed in the only goal of the game as in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Spaniard is enjoying life with Julen Lopetegui at the helm after a difficult spell under Bruno Lage.

He is out of contract at the end of the season and his long-term future has been up in the air for quite some time.

An unsuccessful loan stint at Barcelona during the second half of 21-22 did Traore no favours as the La Liga giants opted against triggering his £29million buy option.

Tottenham tried to beat Barcelona to the player’s signature last January but he was not keen to play as a right-wing-back under Antonio Conte.

Wolves reportedly put a contract worth more than £100,000 a week on the table over a year ago, but Traore opted against becoming the club’s highest-paid player.

The 27-year-old obviously has high ambitions in the game, but – in my opinion – it is abundantly clear that he is never going to be a key starting player for a Premier League club.

“My mindset is to give everything to the team right now and after we will see,” Traore said after Saturday’s win against Spurs.

“I’m always happy with Wolves, with the manager (Julen Lopetegui). I’m working here 100 per cent, my focus is just game by game.

“My focus is on the pitch and after that it’s for my agent. We have had a great relationship through these years. My mentality right now is to help the team when I’m on the pitch and to keep winning.”

According to The Athletic, there are no talks over a new contract currently ongoing, and the previous offer is no longer on the table.

Lopetegui has hinted that he would be willing to keep hold of Traore beyond the summer, though it is claimed that the player and club are happy to wait until the end of 22-23 to re-open contract negotiations.

A contract that matches the previous offer is ‘unlikely’, however.

Traore has shone coming off the bench for the Spanish head coach, but he understandably wants to play for a club that regards him as a ‘key player’.

As mentioned prior, he does not have the ability to be that in the top-flight, but I do think he would be a brilliant option off the bench for literally any club in the Premier League, whether that be Arsenal or Wolves.

Speaking about Lopetegui’s system and his role, Traore said: “That is not my decision.

“What I can control is when I’m on the pitch, make an impact and try to help the team. This is the decision of the gaffer, I respect the gaffer.

“He has tried to improve me as a player. Whatever minutes the team needs me to help, I will be there. Every player wants to start — there are no players in the world who don’t want to start.”

90min reported last month that Atletico Madrid have ‘held talks’ with Traore’s representatives.

Meanwhile, former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has said Traore doesn’t thrive in the final third.

“End product isn’t probably his greatest attribute,” he said. “I think Adama Traore is such a unique player. He’s so explosive and powerful.

“I actually like this finish [against Spurs]. He doesn’t try to smash it. It’s like a guided volley. It is actually a peculiar finish, but I think he realises that, because he’s in the air, he can’t smack it or so he guides it into the top corner. It shows that you don’t need power.”