Aston Villa could miss out on multi-million January windfall on Bertrand Traore as Unai Emery shares fresh development
Aston Villa could miss out on a healthy windfall on Bertrand Traore’s services as Unai Emery issued a fresh update on his suspected absence at Villa Park.
The 28-year-old, who joined Villa from Lyon for £17m plus £2m in add-ons in 2020 [Sky Sports, 19 September 2020], has featured for a miserable 41 minutes in all competitions this season and has become a forgotten commodity throughout this year.
Traore started just once for Emery last season and so far this term he’s featured for just nine minutes of action in the Premier League, which was as a substitute against Burnley on 27 August.
The 28-year-old spent the first half of last season on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir before being recalled by Unai Emery in the January transfer window, playing 18 times in all competitions for Basaksehir, scoring three goals before returning to the West Midlands and netting twice in just first team eight appearances last season.
And there had been much talk regarding a possible exit from Villa Park [Birmingham Live, 17 July] as a result of his expected limited opportunities after the signings of Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo.
The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, taking to his January transfer window guide on Thursday (21 December) also shared that the Burkina Faso forward could be shipped out in January as the club are willing to listen to offers on a number of their fringe stars.
Over his last six appearances for Villa, Traore has only managed to amass four progressive carries out of 9 attempted [FBREF], a stat which may prove why Emery is always hesitant to even include him in his matchday squad.
However, absences have proven uncanny in the West Midlands.
Traore was present for his country during the November internationals – for the first time since June – and impressed with a sublime individual goal against Guinea-Bissau in a 1-1 draw in their 2026 World Cup qualifying game on 18 November.
Since then, he hasn’t been seen at Villa Park.
According to Birmingham Live (12 December), Emery revealed Traore returned to Bodymoor Heath with an injury after the November internationals but hasn’t been seen or pictured since ramping up suggestions his future now looks bleak at the club.
The Aston Villa boss again confirmed his absence through injury on Thursday (21 December) with Injury Expert Ben Dinnery sharing on his website (22 December) that there is “no return date” for the forward.
Traore’s contract with the Midlands club expires next summer, so it certainly makes sense for Aston Villa to ship him out in the upcoming window.
However, with the forward out with injury right now, that spells bad news on Aston Villa recouping some much-needed funds in January with no club willing to take a player who has yet to prove his fitness and match-readiness all season so far.
It’s clear that Traore’s career in the West Midlands looks inevitably over and while he still may have qualities which could be incredibly useful elsewhere, it remains to be seen whether the Villans will be able to sale him as Ornstein shares.
In other Aston Villa news, a journalist has blasted Garth Crooks for his Villa “fantasy” comments.