Tottenham are yet to finalize a deal for Wolves winger Adama Traore, who will travel with the Midlands club for his game at Brentford on Saturday.
Spurs are keen to sign the 25-year-old Spain international and are understood to have rejected a £15m (€18million) bid earlier this week, with Wolves reportedly worth £25m (€30m). ) was taken out.
But the PA news agency understands talks are still ongoing as the London club finally tries to land a player they also tried to sign over the summer.
Traore, who is out of contract next summer and will not renew at Molineux, has been identified as a target by managing director of football Fabio Paratici, with boss Antonio Conte intending to replace him at right-wing-back. .
Despite speculation, Traore is part of the Wolves squad traveling to London for Saturday's Premier League game.
Boss Bruno Lage said: "We have a top player with us, a lovely boy.
"I remember how Tottenham defended Harry Kane at the beginning of the season. And we will protect our player because we believe so much in Adama.
"That's business. It's not my concern. But I'll protect my players. The way they do things, it's worth a lot to me."
“I don't see any difference in his behaviour, his mindset, his way of working. That's why I'm happy with that. He is still the same player.
“He has one more year left. The club talks to him and he talks to them and they will decide the future. I am happy with him, that's all I can say. He's focused, he's ready."
Asked whether the uncertainty over Traor has made it difficult to plan ahead, Lage said: "I don't think about it, I just think about the next game.
“It will be a tough game and we try to prepare as best we can because Brentford are a strong team to play against, especially at home.
“My focus and attention is always on the next game and I don't think about whether Adama stays with us or not. For now he is with us so I am preparing for the match with him."
Wolves will be without injured players Johnny Castro Otto, Pedro Neto (both knees), Willie Bolly (calf), Hwang Hee-chan and Yerson Mosquera (both hamstrings) on Saturday.
Defender Romain Sass remains with Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations, but Lage will be boosted by the return of midfielder Ruben Neves and Dutch defender Ki-Jana Hovar, who have both returned from Covid-19 isolation.
The Portuguese confirmed that Spanish defender Otto and midfielder Bruno Jordao were back in training, while forward Neto was expected to return in about two weeks.
Eighth on the table, Wolves have dropped just two points in their last four Premier League games and are six points behind fourth-placed West Ham with two games to go.
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