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Dean Smith praises ‘marvellous’ Bertrand Traore following debut season for Aston Villa
Dean Smith has heaped plenty of praise on Aston Villa attacker Bertrand Traore following an impressive debut season for the Premier League side after joining last summer.
Speaking to the press ahead of tomorrow night’s league clash with Everton, the Villa manager was impressed with how the former Lyon winger had adapted to live with the Birmingham-based club, with Smith saying when asked about Traore: “He’s a marvellous technician, I’ve been really pleased and I expect better from him next season as well.”
The Burkina Faso international joined Villa from Ligue 1 last summer for a reported fee of £17m after impressing for Lyon following his departure from Chelsea in 2017, with Traore featuring for the French giants in their UEFA Champions League run to semi-finals last season.
And in his comeback season in England, Traore has continued to impress, with the 25-year-old attacker hitting seven goals and assisting a further five in all competitions for Villa, including a wonderful strike against Manchester United last weekend.
TBR View: Traore can only go from strength to strength after impressive season
There was excitement from supporters when Villa signed Traore from Lyon last summer, and the hype has been justified with the former Chelsea winger putting up some impressive stats for Smith’s side in his first full year in the Premier League, and there is an expectation that the Burkina Faso international will build on from this campaign.
Traore has been one of Villa’s best attacking players this season as the Villains look set to claim a midtable finish in the Premier League, and with a summer of likely new additions that could aid the front line, the former Lyon star could exceed the goals and assists he will hit this season.