Bertrand Traore to be sold by Unai Emery after Aston Villa decision at Molineux, replacements mooted by pundit

We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…

Unai Emery could get rid of Bertrand Traore in the summer despite bringing him back to Aston Villa in January, according to Alan Hutton.

Traore, 27, spent the first half of the season on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir but in Emery's first transfer window at Villa Park, the Spaniard recalled the Burkina Faso international so he could play a role in the Premier League.

The former Chelsea winger scored two goals in two games against Leicester and Nottingham Forest as a substitute in April and finally earned his first start of the Premier League campaign on Saturday at Wolves.

However, Traore's first Premier League start since January 2022 only lasted 45 minutes as he was replaced by Leon Bailey halfway through Villa's 1-0 loss at Molineux.

Hutton now believes that Traore could be someone who Emery makes a decision on this summer as he looks to replace existing players with his own signings.

"It's been difficult for Traore," Hutton told Villa News.

"He's been in and out, he's been out on loan, come back and scored two big goals for Villa.

"He's shown the manager that he's more than capable.

"I think as a winger, he's always going to float in and out, especially when he's up against the likes of Leon Bailey.

"It's going to be difficult. But the opportunity is there for him and Unai Emery obviously trusts him, otherwise he wouldn't have brought him back. It's a big boost for his confidence.

"Can he play at a high level? You know for a fact the manager's going to want to bring in his own signings in the summer and Traore could maybe be shipped out then."

Traore signed for Villa in September 2020 and has since made 56 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 10 goals.

In other Aston Villa news, the Villans have been backed to complete one major deal in the summer after an update from Fabrizio Romano.