TONY PULIS has effectively been told not to expect Wolves to allow Adama Traore to return to Middlesbrough on loan this month.

With Pulis on the look out for attacking reinforcements following the opening of the window, the possibility of the flying Spanish winger heading back to Teesside has been floating around.

The Middlesbrough boss is a huge fan and has retained a strong relationship with Traore, so such a switch is likely to benefit him at a time when he is struggling to make an impact at Molineux.

Pulis has already secured the services of winger Rajiv van la Parra from Huddersfield and Traore would be welcomed back with open arms by the Middlesbrough boss, provided the deal was right.

But Wolves are keen to get the best out of their £18m signing, having only signed him in the summer when they triggered the release clause in the player’s contract.

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo said: “Adama must improve. Of course he has good things and given us good moments but he has to be consistent through all the performances. This is something we are really focused on because we truly believe in his qualities.

“I think he is focused, he is working hard and we are helping him to achieve what we want. He needs to improve on a lot of things, like all the players. But I know what he’s going to give me, total availability to do his task.”

Traore has been used mainly as a substitute this season and when he started through the middle against Newcastle earlier this month he was unable to shine, and that is the role Santo has tended to field him in.

He said: “He brings an element of speed, unpredictability, quality and at the same time he must improve in all the aspects of the game.

“Players who play in the last line of the pitch, the most difficult line to play, have to have these characteristics. Talent, this is what you expect from them.”

Pulis is looking to trim the club’s wage bill this month to increase the pot available for new recruits.

He does not want to bring players in who will place the club in a worse position financially as he disagrees with what a number of pre-Pulis signings were being paid.

Danish forward Martin Braithwaite has departed already and he is clearly looking for a chance to shine as a main striker for Leganes, a role he was not normally asked to play at Middlesbrough.

“My best position I would say is as a striker,” he said. “They (Leganes) have been playing different formations but I think with two strikers, that is my best position.”

Middlesbrough more often than not had him out wide or as a No 10 and that contributed to his frustrations, leading to him heading out on loan for a second time in just 18 months on Teesside.

Leganes wanted him in the summer but he stayed after Pulis had been impressed with his performances building up to the closure of the window. That relationship soon changed again, though, and Leganes have made it clear they still wanted him.

“Since the summer I knew they were interested, the deal didn’t happen then but I’ve been following the team close for six months and I’ve been liking what I’ve been seeing,” said Braithwaite.

“Now when they came back in for me I was not in doubt, I really wanted to come here.”

Braithwaite added: “I just like to enjoy life day by day. I believe everything is meant to be and it was meant to be that I come now, so I am not really bothered about it.”

Braithwaite watched Leganes against Espanyol over the weekend from the stands and he knows that they face a relegation fight given they are just three points above the drop zone.