Bertrand Traore had a lot to prove ahead of the new season after struggling for form and playing time under Steven Gerrard in 2021/22, but it doesn’t appear his situation has improved after a disappointing pre-season campaign.
The 26-year-old had an uncertain future this summer and hasn’t done his chances of staying any favours after hardly featuring in Aston Villa’s friendlies. His omission may have been because Gerrard wasn’t happy with his training ground performances.
Traore was already behind Philippe Coutinho and Emiliano Buendia in the pecking order, but he might see Leon Bailey picked ahead of him after the 24-year-old impressed in Villa’s friendlies.
Traore had a decent debut season at Villa, scoring eight goals with seven assists from 38 games after joining on a four-year deal from Olympique Lyonnais in 2020, but things have since gone downhill. He failed to score or make an assist from 10 appearances in his second year, however, so he didn’t contribute a lot to Villa’s season.
The Burkina Faso international started just one friendly since the Walsall victory in early July – playing 45 minutes in Villa’s 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar – and didn’t set the place alight with his performance, so it’s hard to see where he goes from here.
Gerrard has been ruthless trimming the deadwood from his ‘bloated’ squad – offloading Trezeguet, Lovre Kalinic, Conor Hourihane and Matt Targett in one transfer window – so is Traore at risk of the axe?
In other news, Marvelous Nakamba has uncertain Aston Villa future after omission on pre-season tour
