Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that Aston Villa forward Bertrand Traore is likely to leave on deadline day.
Aston Villa are going to be hard at work to secure a flurry of signings, one of those being Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough, who completed his medical ahead of a move to the club yesterday.
Unai Emery is also set to complete a signing in his goalkeeper department. Villa agreed a fee with Adelaide United for their promising shot-stopper Joe Gauci upon signing a long-term contract at Villa Park.
In terms of adding a full-back to the ranks, the Villans are close to sealing a permanent deal for Arsenal’s attacking left-back Lino Sousa. The 19-year-old is a long-term replacement for Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno in that position and is expected to be loaned straight out to Championship side Plymouth.
After opening the chequebook towards the back end of the window, Emery could do with selling some of his fringe players. Leander Dendoncker already departed on loan to Napoli and now Bertrand Traore is likely to leave today.
Fabrizio Romano says Bertrand Traore is ‘likely to leave’ today
Aston Villa secured the signing of Traore from Lyon for £19 million in 2020. The 28-year-old was fresh from helping his side make a surprise appearance in the Champions League semi-finals.
Although he established himself under Dean Smith, registering 15 goal contributions in 38 appearances, he would struggle for game time during Steven Gerrard’s reign and was loaned out to Istanbul Basaksehir at the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
The winger, who played for Burkina Faso at this year’s AFCON, has only played 41 minutes across six appearances this term and is surplus to requirements under Emery.
Fabrizio Romano now believes he could be set for a deadline-day departure while he expects Jacob Ramsey to remain at the club.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said: “One player who could leave Villa is probably Traore. This is what I’m hearing. I don’t think Ramsey has a concrete chance to leave in the final days. It will be complicated and could take a big amount of money or a very creative offer. So, I think this one is going to be difficult.”
Villa need to sell Traore
While they are never going to recoup the fee they paid for him, they must let Traore move on in this window, if possible.
Not only would it free up his £78k-a-week wage, but the former Chelsea forward needs to be playing regular football as he reaches the so-called peak years of his career.
Despite showing some promise in claret and blue, Traore has been largely disappointing since Emery took over and hasn’t nailed down a place in his plans.
With the imminent arrival of Rogers, too, as well as the likes of Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey to compete with, it’s best if he is moved on before the deadline.
