As fast as Salah: Journo says Leeds supporters would be 'really excited' by £18m winger swoop

Adama Traore would be a ‘great signing’ for Leeds United, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told GiveMeSport.

Football Insider reported last week that the Whites have approached Wolves over a potential deal for the 26-year-old, as they want to sign a ‘pacey forward capable of carrying the ball forward long distances’.

Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta is said to be a ‘big admirer’ of the Spain winger, having negotiated a deal to take him from Aston Villa to Middlesbrough in 2016. Traore only has a year remaining on his contract at Molineux and talks over an extension have broken down, so Wolves are willing to sell if they receive an offer in the region of £18m.

The Spaniard spent the second half of last season on loan at La Liga giants Barcelona, but they have decided against a permanent deal.

O’Rourke suspects that Leeds supporters would be thrilled by a deal for Traore, a player who ‘gets fans off their seats’, adding that the Whites may have a ‘world beater’ on their hands if Jesse Marsch can extract the 26-year-old’s best form.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “I think the fans will be really excited about Traore. We all know he’s a bit inconsistent, Traore, but on his day he can be a world-beater.

“He gets fans off their seats with his direct style, and his fast, attacking style of football that he does play. I think if Leeds can get the best out of Traore, he could be a great signing.”

Traore certainly ticks plenty of boxes for Leeds. He ranked joint-second in last season’s Premier League (along with Mohamed Salah) for highest top speed recorded, clocking 36.6 km/h.

He also came in at 11th among players with at least three top-flight starts for progressive carrying distance per 90 minutes (via FBRef). Meanwhile,