Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore has been given glowing plaudits on the airwaves this week after talkSPORT Drive duo Adrian Durham and Darren Gough waxed lyrical about him.
What have they said?
Nuno Santo’s side finally saw their 11-match unbeaten run in the Premier League come to an agonising end at the weekend as Tottenham Hotspur ran away with all three points at Molineux.
It was a heartbreaking way to taste defeat as Jan Vertonghen’s shock appearance inside the penalty area saw him head home a Christian Eriksen corner in injury time.
The game looked to be heading towards a draw after Traore had levelled things up with an excellent finish from the edge of the box.
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Earlier this week, the talkSPORT double act were left with nothing but praise for the Spaniard, they said:
“Manchester United, is he better than Dan James? Yeah,” said Durham. “At this moment in time,” added Gough.
“I’m not saying he’s rubbish but I think Traore gets in ahead of him. Tottenham Hotspur? Doesn’t look out of place in a front three there. Chelsea? I think definitely,” claimed Durham. “Absolutely,” said Gough.Â
Durham continued: “Leicester City, does he get in there? Course he does. There’s no Premier League squad that wouldn’t take him. He wouldn’t look out of place in Man City or Liverpool’s teams.
“What about defensively, that’s what I think elevates Traore this season. He is truly top class now.”
Awe-inspiring
When you delve into statistics for this season, it’s easy to see why the 23-year-old is being talked up as a top, top player in the Premier League.
BirminghamLive revealed that he currently ranks as the fifth-best in Europe, per WhoScored. That’s quite damning.
The duo aren’t far wrong with their comparisons to the players they mention. Traore averages more dribbles (4.5) and crosses (0.9) per game than Manchester United’s summer addition while both have scored three goals.
He also outscores Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez for the two same statistics, although, the Algerian edges ahead in terms of league goal contributions with a total of eight compared to the Wolves ace’s six.
But there is a gulf in quality between the two teams to be considered, even despite the west Midlanders winning their last encounter courtesy of a brace from Traore himself.
It’s only a matter of time before more are talking about the tricky winger.
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