Bertrand Traore joined Aston Villa on a four-year deal from Olympique Lyonnais in 2020 and scored seven goals with seven assists from 36 Premier League in his debut season, but his second term at Villa was a disappointment.
The 26-year-old made just 10 appearances this campaign, failing to score or make an assist while amassing 277 minutes of playing time, so his future at Villa Park may already be in doubt.
Traore looked to be an important player in 2021, but he’s now out-of-favour under Steven Gerrard and unwanted. Dean Jones believes he could be moved on this summer, telling Give Me Sport: “There has to be doubt over whether Bertrand Traore is still at the club by next season,” so the writing is on the wall.
Gerrard prefers to line up in a 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-1-2 formation at Villa, packing the midfield and relying on the fullbacks to provide width, so there isn’t a place for wingers. Traore spent a lot of the season injured but found himself an unused substitute when fit, so he might have to leave for more playing time.
But whether there are suitors will to pay anything near to the £16.5m Villa spent two years ago remains to be seen. A loan move could be a good temporary solution.
In other news, Dean Jones predicts ‘forgotten man’ Morgan Sanson will be sold
