The pressure on Wolverhampton Wanderers is mounting the longer Adama Traore's contract negotiations go on for, according to Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.
What's the latest news involving Traore?
Reports suggest Wolves are looking to make Traore the club's highest-paid player by agreeing terms on a new four-year deal worth £120,000-per-week.
If Traore shakes hands on the proposal, it would be a hefty pay rise for the pacy winger as he is currently on a contract which is worth £43,000-per-week and has less than two years to run.
However, transfer insider Dean Jones has exclusively told GMS he fears Wolves will be frustrated in their efforts to get the 25-year-old to commit his long-term future to the club.
Wolves, who signed Traore for £18million after meeting his Middlesbrough release clause in 2018, are aiming to tie the Spain international down to fresh terms after Tottenham Hotspur looked to acquire his services in the summer transfer window.
Spurs hoped to sign Traore on a season-long loan which included the view to a permanent £40million deal next summer.
After failing with that offer, Spurs returned with a £30million bid hours before the deadline last month.
But Spurs' proposal was turned down again and they opted against meeting Wolves' £45million valuation for Traore.
What has Luke Hatfield said about the contract situation?
Hatfield believes Traore is putting increasing amounts of pressure on his current employers by refusing to commit his long-term future to the club.
He told GMS: "I suppose he's just focusing on what he's got to look after, which is himself.
"He's probably looking at the Wolves deal on the table and the performances the club put in might well convince him to sign that new deal.
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"But until he does that, obviously he's got Wolves under pressure. Maybe he's hoping that he'll put more performances in, Wolves will see that and offer him a bit more money but, ultimately, the ball is in Traore's court at the moment in terms of whether he signs that new deal or not.
"The longer it goes on without him doing it, the more pressure he is putting on the club."
How has Traore performed so far this season?
While Wolves have struggled in the early stages of Bruno Lage's reign, following his appointment as head coach in June, Traore has been one of the Molineux-based club's star players and caused defences all sorts of problems.
The 25-year-old has started all five of Wolves' Premier League clashes since the new season got underway last month but failed to register a goal or assist.
Traore was also on international duty earlier this month, turning out for Spain in World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Kosovo.