Barcelona are reportedly considering making alternative proposals to land Adama Traore this summer without paying the option to buy clause they negotiated.
The Catalan giants reportedly agreed an optional clause of £29 million with Wolves in January (Sky Sports).
At the time, it felt like a bit of strange deal.
Barcelona’s financial issues in recent times have certainly been well documented.
But the deal was sanctioned by Wolves officials, and Traore has enjoyed a great start to his loan move to the Nou Camp.
Now though, Sport are reporting Barca are already looking at ways of securing Traore without forking out that £29 million fee.
Supposedly, the club could seek to use Francisco Trincao as a sweetener.
He’s obviously on loan at Molineux right now, and supposedly can be bought for around £25 million this summer.
But Trincao is struggling at the moment, and it’s likely Wolves will not want to entertain that particularly idea. Unless Trincao explodes into life all of a sudden until the end of the season.
Barca could also offer Riqui Puig, who has been someone of interest to Wanderers in the past.
There is also a claim that Traore could extend his contract at Wolves by a year, which could pave the way for another loan move to the Nou Camp.
Wolves officials may have dropped the ball with Adama Traore deal
It is slightly concerning to be reading reports of Barcelona looking at different ways to get Traore again next season.
Wolves agreeing to a £29 million option to buy, rather than an obligation, was very risky.
Barca’s financial troubles constantly made headlines last year, with old players needing to take significant wage cuts to help the club register new ones.
If Wolves do not get the £29 million straight up from Barca this summer, then it will be difficult to understand why the deal was ever sanctioned in the first place.