Mills 'surprised' by Liverpool's Traore swoop amid West Ham twist today
Danny Mills has admitted he is "surprised" Liverpool are interested in signing Adama Traore.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Leeds United and England defender claimed the powerful winger "looked a shadow of his former self" last season.
Football Insider revealed on 9 July the Reds have told Wolves they are willing to pay £25million for Traore.
This site revealed in March that the Midlands outfit were willing to listen to offers for the Spain international after talks over a new contract broke down.
Despite a difficult campaign for Wolves, Traore still earned a place in Luis Enrique's Spain squad for this summer's European Championship.
Football Insider revealed today (14 July) West Ham have also made an enquiry over Traore with David Moyes keen to play him as a striker as well as out wide.
Asked whether he thought Traore could thrive at Liverpool, Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: "I'm surprised.
"He had that one really good season where he turned all that pace, speed and power into something different. He turned it into end product with goals and assists.
"But last season he turned into a shadow of his former self. That wasn't the player we once saw. He wasn't driving past players, he wasn't taking them on, he wasn't scoring, he wasn't getting assists.
"For whatever reason, he was just off it completely and therefore didn't play an awful lot of football."
Traore scored twice and provided three assists in 37 Premier League games last term.
He made one substitute appearance for Spain at the European Championship.