Adama Traore admitted he was excited to work with Max Kilman again following his arrival at West Ham United from Fulham this week, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers teammates reunited.
On this evidence, you have to wonder if the feeling is mutual.
Traore and Kilman played 88 games together for Wolves before the former moved on to Fulham in 2023. Now, they are back together, alongside Nuno Espirito Santo.
Adama Traore thinks West Ham will STAY up 👀 How much more confident are you now that we’ve signed him?
Hit the comments on how you actually feel, I know he divides opinion 😂
West Ham snapped up Traore for just £2 million this week. And, as he indicated during a pre-match press conference on Thursday, Nuno could hand the Hammers newbie a debut away at Chelsea this weekend.
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The likelihood is though that, given he has not started a league match since September, Adama Traore will begin life at West Ham United on the bench. Given that Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo have marshalled the club to successive Premier League wins, expect to see the aforementioned Max Kilman sitting alongside his former Old Gold sparring partner in the Stamford Bridge dugout.
Adama Traore roasts Max Kilman as West Ham United prepare for Chelsea trip
The Hammers posted a few early clips of Traore in his new stomping ground on their official YouTube channel this week.
In one of those clips – a small-sided game taking place on Rush Green – Traore found himself up against Kilman. He could be spotted squaring up the centre-back at one point, with that trademark jinking movement of his. A body feint sent Kilman careering in the wrong direction. Traore would then repeat the trick, sending the defender this way and that before firing his finish into the top corner.
A clip which does not reflect particularly well on the £40 million man – Kilman has already lost his place in the XI and lost the faith of most supporters – but offers a tantalising little glimpse into the explosive qualities Traore could bring if harnessed correctly.
“Adama, I know him very well I’ve worked with him many years and I know him,” Nuno said of Traore, who recorded a career-best nine league assists under the West Ham boss in 2019/20.
“He’s unique. There are not many players with his ability in one-v-one situations, with his speed, his pace, and I think he is going to give us many things that we need.”
Nuno Espirito Santo could hand Traore a debut at Stamford Bridge
What should Nuno do to end West Ham’s AWFUL record vs Chelsea? ⚒️ 🔵
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Hammers News can confirm that West Ham see Adama Traore making an impact in the defensive side of things, too. His ability to stride up the pitch at breakneck speed, it is felt, should give the Hammers a vital outlet against teams who dominate possession.
Teams like Chelsea, perhaps.
“We haven’t decided yet [on the lineup to face Chelsea],” Nuno added. “We still have tomorrow to decide the squad. Adama is physically OK. He can be an option.
“The threat he possesses and his energy, not only on the pitch but in the dressing room and the training room. He’s a special person to have around. It’s not up to me to judge what happened before [regarding his role at Fulham]. I’m just happy to have him here!”
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