Aston Villa must not fall into ‘horrible’ trap with Bertrand Traore, summer transfer expected – Ty Bracey
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Ty Bracey has predicted that Bertrand Traore will leave Aston Villa permanently this summer but has warned the club not to fall into a similar situation as current loanee Wesley.
Traore, 27, was recalled from his loan spell at Istanbul Basaksehir in the January transfer window after Unai Emery missed out on his desired transfer targets.
Despite scoring match-winning goals in consecutive weeks against Leicester City and Nottingham Forest, the winger has struggled to make any further impact on proceedings.
Since returning to Villa Park, Traore has amassed a mere 226 minutes of Premier League action and has been an unused substitute in the club’s last two matches.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bracey warned Villa not to fall into a similar situation as current loanee Wesley, who has been on three separate loans over the last two seasons and is still contracted with the club expire until June 2024.
“I do think Traore leaves this summer, assuming an offer comes in,” he said.
“We have had a horrible way, past tense Villa this is, where there are players who are hard to get off the books, for example Wesley still plays for Aston Villa.
“It is hard to get rid of these players, to get them off the books.
“Some of these players are running down their contracts, so it’s a really difficult one, but I think Traore goes.”
The Burkina Faso attacker is contracted at Villa until the end of the 2024 season, so this summer represents the last realistic option to receive a substantial fee for his services.
With Cameron Archer expected to return from his loan spell at Middlesbrough and at least one other attacker expected to come through the doors, Traore’s days in an Aston Villa top could be numbered.
In other Aston Villa news, a first-team player pocketed Cody Gakpo with a 10-clearance showing in the draw against Liverpool.