Chelsea
have approached Middlesbrough over the availability of winger Adama Traore,
according to Sky sources - but does the player have what it takes to succeed
at Stamford Bridge?
Traore's appearances for both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough this season will
complicate a January move to London - the 20-year-old cannot play for
another club this campaign - but Chelsea may look to firm up their reported
interest in the summer.
Traore yet again completed more dribbles than any other player in gameweek
22. The Spaniard beat an opponent 11 times against West Ham on Saturday, his
second highest total this season and the third overall.
Of the 16 occasions that a Premier League player has completed eight
dribbles or more in 2016/17, the youngster has been responsible for six.
His blistering pace and power was abundantly evident in his fleeting
appearances for Aston Villa last season, no less so than on his Premier
League debut. Coming on as a second-half substitute at Crystal Palace,
Traore forced the own goal that drew Villa level and certainly left an
impression on Alan Pardew, who commented after the game that he was "the
quickest thing I've ever seen".
The travelling fans salivated at the prospect of what the winger could
produce but a combination of injuries and administration clauses to do with
his signing from Barcelona restricted the teenager to just 10 league
appearances and not a single start.
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka, aware of Traore's talents from his time in
Spain, took up the opportunity to sign the winger in the summer. However,
despite his dribbling prowess, the former Barcelona youngster has often
found himself out of the team, with his end product proving to be a
recurring frustration.
Traore is second in the Premier League for total dribbles (84), with Eden
Hazard just six ahead of the Boro man despite playing more than twice the
number of minutes. But the lack of a single goal or assist this season is
telling.
After making his first start in October and playing 858 minutes, Traore
averages a key pass just once every 107 minutes and has hit the target with
only two of his six shots. A meagre 69.5 per cent passing accuracy reflects
his weakness when it comes to retaining possession.
Karanka has built Boro's survival quest on a solid defensive base, but
Traore has struggled to contribute in this department. He has made just
eight tackles and five interceptions all season. Could tactical expert Conte
develop that aspect of Traore's game?
Certainly Victor Moses would have been an unlikely contender for a wing-back
role last summer, but under the Italian's guidance the wide player has found
a balance between attack and defence and is on course for the most
productive season of his career.
Whether Traore has the potential to fulfil a similar role will be a decision
for Conte to make. There is, after all, not a player in the league that can
match Traore's directness and speed with the ball at his feet. And he is
able to complement his raw pace with exceptional upper body strength.
The attributes are there and there's plenty of time for one of the Premier
League's most exciting talents to develop. And that could make Traore an
attractive proposition for the title chasers…
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