According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, the future of on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Francisco Trincao could be decided on what he does in the remainder of the campaign.

The 22-year-old arrived at Molineux on a temporary basis in the summer from parent club Barcelona, but Bruno Lage’s charges have the option to make his stay permanent for £25 million.

What is the latest news involving Trincao?

Trincao only became a Barca player in August 2020 following an impressive spell in his homeland with SC Braga where he notched up 22 goal contributions in just 48 appearances.

However, he was unable to replicate that sort of form with the Blaugrana last term where he was awarded just three La Liga starts, contributing only three goals and two assists across 42 outings in all competitions.

A second move in as many years followed his underwhelming spell with Barca but Trincao’s form has been even more alarming in the gold and black of Wolves.

So far this season, the Portugal international has only found the back of the net on one occasion in a second-round Carabao Cup tie against Championship side Nottingham Forest, while failing to set up any of his teammates.

Yet Wolves could still sanction Trincao’s transfer as part of a swap deal involving Adama Traore heading in the opposite direction.

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Traore re-joined Barca on loan in the January window, and according to Spanish outlet Sport, super-agent Jorge Mendes has brokered a deal between the two clubs to exchange the wingers without any money being involved.

The report claims the two players are valued at the same amount, and therefore, they are both set to join their current loan clubs on a permanent basis following the conclusion of 2021/22.

What has O’Rourke said about Trincao?

Nevertheless, O’Rourke believes that potential deal will hinge on Trincao’s form ‘between now and the end of the season’, with Traore already making an impact upon his return to his boyhood club.

He told GiveMeSport: “I think a lot will depend on, between now and the end of the season, what Trincao is able to do for Wolves. He's been a bit hit and miss.”

Would the swap deal be good business for Wolves?

Ultimately, only time will tell who comes out of this swap deal better off, if it actually happens at all.

With Trincao four years Traore’s junior, the Portuguese ace has more room to grow and improve than his Spanish counterpart, but he needs to start producing on the pitch.

In just two outings, Traore has already matched Trincao’s assist record at the Camp Nou, indicating Wolves could be left short-changed if things don’t improve.