Bertrand Traore is now all set to exit Aston Villa this month with Unai Emery confirming the attacker can now leave Villa Park.
The Spaniard shared in his pre-match conference (12 January) ahead of Sunday’s clash against Everton at Goodison Park that both Calum Chambers and Traore are free to find new clubs this month.
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.
The Spaniard, speaking on Friday (12 January), shared: “
“We’re going to face three competitions until the end of the season that are very difficult so we ned the players to be ready. We have the players here. Some players can leave.
“Calum Chambers and Bertrand Traore can leave, and in that case, we can think about adding some players, but not at the moment. I want to support the players we have now.”
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 (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.
The winger’s longest spell on the pitch this season came in the 3-1 win against Burnley in August, where late substitute Traore was handed just nine minutes of game time.
During those nine minutes, the attacker completed 50 per cent of his passes and failed to complete his only attempted long pass [Sofascore]. Moreover, he failed to register any shots or tackles and lost possession of the ball twice during his brief cameo.
His 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.
Traore was chosen for the Burkino Faso squad for this month’s African Cup of Nations but there are doubts over his availability with the attacker currently nursing an injury.
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 and Emery has now surely confirmed that decision. The former Lyon winger’s time at Villa Park is now all but over.
