Wolves facing growing Adama Traore problem as Jurgen Klopp's opinion emerges

There are arguably few players that polarise opinion like Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore.

The Spaniard has now been in English football for six years, with spells at Aston Villa and Middlesbrough preceding his move to Molineux in 2018.

Many have an opinion of Traore and are willing to stick with it regardless.

When pundits are asked to describe Adama Traore, the verdicts normally revolve around what he can't do, other than the astonishing list of things he can.

Even among Wolves supporters there is a divide over what he promises to offer and what the statistics state that he actually does.

The 25-year-old has played 144 times in his three-and-a-bit seasons with Wolves and in those appearances has just 10 goals and 18 assists.

It's a puzzling stat line for a player that on paper at least, has all the attributes to be a truly dominant Premier League player.

In 2019/20 it appeared to have all come together for the jet-heeled forward, scoring six times and registering an impressive 12 assists in all competitions.

Many of those assists came with Raul Jimenez on the other end and the Mexican's absence impacted him greatly last term.

But as Nuno Espirito Santo's tenure came to an underwhelming end, it was Traore that almost single-handedly kept Wolves out of relegation trouble.

He scored a last gasp winner at Fulham, created the only goal in the win over Sheffield United, before turning the game in the home victory over Brighton.

They were Wolves' only three wins in their final 13 Premier League games, and the results ultimately helped keep them in the top-flight.

Nuno then departed for Tottenham, before spending the majority of the summer window trying to arrange a reunion, with the noises coming from the West Midlands suggesting they were open to offers.

Spurs refused to match the Wolves valuation, meaning he would be a part of Bruno Lage's evolution at the club.

And for the first three games of the season, Traore looked set to be an integral part of Lage's master plan.

Utilised as an inside-forward on the left flank, the Spain international found himself playing in a different style, attacking the shoulder of the last man, rather than driving at retreating full-backs.

But after spurning golden chances against Leicester and Tottenham, Traore went back to the right, before coming out of the side altogether.

In their last seven games, of which Wolves have won five, Traore has started just one, seemingly sliding down the pecking order in a squad filled with attacking options.

"I would like to see from Adama what he did in the first three games," Wolves boss Lage said. "He's the kind of player who, when you have the ball, can do something special.

"But I want more Adama during the game, not just when you have the ball. He needs to be there more time in the game."

Worrying words from a manager that demands as much work off-the-ball as on it: "Really, I don't care if they understand or not. It's my way to work," the Portuguese said about not playing some of his biggest stars. "If you are comfortable, sometimes you go the easy way."

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Traore, despite his limited minutes remains the Premier League's best dribbler, completing more than double per game than next in the rankings Allan Saint-Maximin.

But with just 18 months remaining on his deal, a decision will need to be made as to whether that is enough to keep him.

Contract negotiations have been lengthy and frustrating with a growing feeling that he could be the latest star sold to help in the ownership's bid to become truly self-sufficient.

JOIN THE DEBATE! Should Liverpool sign Traore?

Regardless of his limited output there would likely be a long list of potential suitors, particularly as that asking price continues to dwindle along with his contract.

Liverpool are one team that have been heavily linked with the services. Jurgen Klopp has made no bones about the fact that Wolves are a good breeding ground for the type of player he seeks, Diogo Jota's seamless transition has proved that.

And the German has been similarly glowing about Jota's former team-mate: "[Traore] is unplayable in moments, it's unbelievable," he said in 2020. "What a player - it's not only him but he's so good."

With Wolves now on the verge of an extremely difficult looking December, it could be the perfect time to welcome Traore back into the XI and determine his future once and for all.