How Adama Traore will fund Dembele’s new contract

Karan Tejwani

• 3 May 2022 19:04 BST
• 3 min read

Adama Traore had a bright start to life at Barcelona, but his form and status at the club has fizzled out in recent times and it doesn’t look like he’s going to stay at the Nou Camp beyond this season.

The winger joined on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the January transfer window to bolster Barcelona’s attacking line, and he had a few good performances at the start of the month.

A La Masia graduate, Traore performed in Europa League matches against Napoli and was important in boosting Barcelona’s position in the league table, but things haven’t quite been the same since.

How will Traore's departure benefit Barcelona?

Recent times have seen the re-emergence of Ousmane Dembele, who became an integral cog of the Barcelona attack, providing to the team with key assists and becoming one of La Liga’s top providers.

Traore’s fall in the pecking order was evident this weekend in their win over Mallorca, when he was not picked to start despite Dembele’s absence, with coach Xavi opting for a front three of Memphis Depay, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ferran Torres instead.

Barcelona do have option to make Traore’s loan move permanent this summer, but it will cost them a fee of €30 million if they want to do so.

Refusing to spend that may allow them to invest elsewhere, such as an extension on Dembele’s contract, which expires this summer and is a top priority for the club, according to Xavi.

Xavi sees Dembele as a key figure of the team and the Frenchman is a part of his long-term plans and has requested that the extension be completed before his contract runs out on 30 June.

The winger’s entourage have been in constant talks with the club, and there is some optimism that they will come to a positive conclusion and Dembele will stay at Barcelona beyond this season.