Read Aston Villa previously suggested Traore may be on his way out of Villa this summer after falling down the pecking order and Alan Hutton seems to agree.
The 26-year-old has made only nine appearances in all competitions this season, failing to score or make an assist while amassing a paltry 244 minutes of playing time, so the writing is on the wall.
Steven Gerrard likes to set up his side in a 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-1-2 formation, placing creative emphasis on the midfield rather than wingers. Instead, the fullbacks are given license to get up the pitch, so Traore doesn’t have a role in this system.
Hutton told Football Insider: “Gerrard’s been evaluating his squad this year. I think what (he’ll) do is move some out of the squad, the likes of Bertrand Traore. These kinds of guys have had umpteen opportunities and it’s not worked out.”
Traore international had a hand in 15 goals from 38 games last season but is now surplus to requirements. He can’t get a start for Villa, so they’re left with no other choice but to leave. The 26-year-old spent the first half of the season on the sidelines and has spent the second half as an unused substitute, so it’s been a wasted campaign
Villa paid £16.6m to sign Traore from Olympique Lyonnais in 2020, but it remains to be seen if they’d get that money back.
In other news, Atalanta may have to pay £33.9m to sign Matty Cash
