The race for Adama Traore’s signature could now be between West Ham and Stoke, with Mundo Deportivo now reporting that Aston Villa are out of the race to bring in the Barcelona youngster.
Stoke had seemed extremely close to finalising a deal for the winger when he visited their Staffordshire training ground and met up with some of his former teammates from Barça’s youth ranks, with The Villans their closest rivals. However, it would appear they’ve now dropped out, with Slaven Bilic’s West Ham taking their place.
It’s thought that Adama Traore would be available for as little as £4.2 million, which would make him one of West Ham’s cheaper purchases this summer, although, arguably, one of the best value.
Since promotion to the B team in 2013 – after nine years in the academy – Traore has played 63 times for Barcelona’s second team, and managed to make his senior La Liga debut in the 2013/14 season, although he hasn’t featured since.
Were Adama to choose The Hammers over The Potters, he’d become their tenth signing of the summer window, following talents like Angelo Ogbonna and Dimitri Payet into Upton Park.
