Aston Villa journalist Gregg Evans has issued a transfer claim surrounding Olympique Lyon winger Bertrand Traore.
This comes after Evans recently made an appearance on The Athletic’s Villa-themed podcast 1874, where he spoke about the latest news topics concerning Dean Smith’s side.
On the subject of some potential incoming transfers the club could make before the end of the current summer transfer window, Evans had this to say on Traore in particular.
He said: “Bertrand Traore, the Lyon winger, is the next one that will be coming through, he’s been on the radar for some time. Once the formalities are done – his medical and the bits of paperwork that need to be completed, his work permit issues – that will be the next one through the door.”
The 25-year-old, who is currently valued at £8.55 million, signed to the French club back in the 2017 summer transfer window from Chelsea for a fee of £9 million.
Since then, Traore has made 126 appearances for Lyon across all competitions, in which he has racked up a total of 33 goals and 17 assists along the way (per Transfermarkt).
Earlier in the month, it was reported by Sky Sports that the Aston Villa had agreed a deal with Lyon to sign Traore on a four-year deal for a fee of £17 million, with a further £2 million in add-ons.
Traore made 23 appearances for Lyon in Ligue 1 last season, earning himself a season rating of 6.95/10 for his performances (per WhoScored).
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It appears that Evans is fairly confident that Traore will be the latest player to be unveiled at Villa Park, with the club having already signed Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez earlier in the window.
Given how Traore has managed to pick up a decent goals and assists record from the wing during his time at Lyon, everyone at Villa would presumably be hoping he can do the same for the club if he ends up at Villa Park in the coming weeks.