Boubacar Traore is the only first-team player currently not with the squad – and one thing Gary O’Neil has been doing in pre-season could prove to be less than ideal for the midfielder.
Traore has been on Olympics duty with Mali.
The Games have been an opportunity for the 22-year-old to get some minutes under his belt, having not featured a huge amount last season for Wolves.
Traore played second fiddle to Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes, with Tommy Doyle often the next choice for O’Neil.
Traore made 27 appearances across all competitions. But for only 997 minutes on the pitch.
He will be hoping to build on those minutes in 2023/24. But it’s possible that even more competition has now emerged for him at Molineux.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde could be new competition for Boubacar Traore at Wolves
Since Traore joined Wolves two years ago, initially on loan from FC Metz, minutes have been hard to come by.
In his first season, he had Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho ahead of him, and then midway through 2022/23, Lemina and Gomes joined.
Last summer, Doyle came in from Manchester City and looks a real player.
So he already has it tough. And now, while he has been away, Gary O’Neil has been using Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in a deeper role at times in pre-season.
The Frenchman had a bit of an indifferent first season at Molineux, after signing for the club from Strasbourg.
But O’Neil believes in his ability and potential, and the star has impressed over the last few weeks.
Against West Ham United, he gave a great account of himself playing in a deeper role alongside Tommy Doyle, which allowed him to make use of his ball-carrying.
He featured in a similar role last night against RB Leipzig and again caught the eye.
Given that Traore’s usual position is operating in deeper midfield areas, this perhaps the last thing the youngster needed in his bid for more minutes.
Traore loan would be no surprise
Traore – who cost Wolves £9.5 million – is a player with great potential, and we have seen glimpses of his talent in a Wolves shirt over the last two years. He finished last season quite well in comparison to a lot of his teammates.
But the competition for places in midfield at Wolves right now is so tough, and now O’Neil seemingly has a new option for those deeper roles in Bellegarde.
Of course, the star can also play further forwards. But he might well have given the manager something to think about.
Traore has had some interest from RC Lens this summer, so perhaps that could be a potential destination if O’Neil decides a move away would be best.