Wolves bid farewell to Adama Traore earlier this summer, although his exit from the club was strangely muted.
The winger is now a free agent after running down his contract at Wolves.
That was the very same contract he signed with the club in the summer of 2018 after his transfer from Middlesbrough.
A lot of fans were hopeful that he would stay.
Former manager Julen Lopetegui was also keen for the 27-year-old to remain.
But that wasn’t to be the case, and on June 31, Traore officially left Wolves.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs gave an update on three players earlier this summer.
He confirmed the exits of Joao Moutinho and Diego Costa, with the pair also coming to the end of their contracts.
But on Traore, he said (via Wolves official): “As the manager said in his press conferences recently, Adama is a player we’d like to keep and we’re still talking to him. He’s now out of contract, but it doesn’t mean there’s not an opportunity to still come to an agreement, so conversations will be ongoing. He’s probably earned the right to understand what else is out there.”
Those comments gave Wolves fans faint hope that Traore actually may still re-sign with Wolves.
And now, journalist Liam Keen has given an update on the Spaniard…
Adama Traore unlikely to seal Wolves return after running down his contract
At the end of the latest Express & Star podcast, journalists Liam Keen and Nathan Judah took questions from Wolves fans.
A few people had asked about the potential for the free agent Traore to come back to Wolves.
On this, Keen said: “With Traore, I’m not aware of anything happening as it stands. As I’ve said with frees, small fees and loans… it’s possible to an extent. It would take some negotiating. So it’s not necessarily impossible.
“But you’ve got to remember it was also his decision as well as Wolves’ decision to leave at the end of his contract. And more him, really, because Wolves offered him a new deal. Or they were at least in negotiations over a new deal.
“I don’t see that one happening if I’m honest with you. But I supposed you could say never say never, especially when he hasn’t got a club as it stands.”
Towards the end of the season, there were reports about interest from Napoli in Traore.
There was also mention of Spanish clubs Atletico Madrid and Real Betis.
Traore still being a free agent is a surprise
It is actually baffling that Traore is still a free agent at this point.
It has been all quiet with him since he left Molineux, which has got some Wolves’ fans hopes up over a possible return.
Traore returning cannot be completely ruled out.
Who knows, new manager Gary O’Neil might fancy starting Traore more regularly than Julen Lopetegui did.
But Keen rightly points out that Traore has had the chance to extend at Molineux.
The fact he didn’t suggests that he’s ready for a new chapter.
That said, if a club does not come in for him, then maybe he could have change of heart