Everton are ready to make a move for Bertrand Traore this summer, as per reports.
The former Chelsea attacker has had an impressive season with Lyon in the Ligue 1, attracting the interest of a host of clubs across Europe.
According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Everton are ready to join Liverpool in the race to sign Traore.
Bertrand Traore: A shrewd choice by Everton
Everton enjoyed a decent campaign under the tutelage of Marco Silva. The Portuguese mastermind has managed to rejuvenate the attack, and has transformed the Toffees into one of the sharpest attacking sides in the division, although it took some time.
However, Everton are still lacking depth in the offensive department, especially when it comes to the wide department. Theo Walcott has been inconsistent, while Ademola Lookman has failed to crack the first team on a regular basis.
Traore, therefore, would be a welcome addition to the Everton attack that has appeared over-reliant on the services of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison. The latter has been quite productive in the wide-role and is a guaranteed starter in the right-wing role. That means Traore would be the ideal option to have on the left wing, ahead of Bernard.
The 23-year-old is tough to knock off the ball, and often does well to keep hold of the ball in the attacking third even under pressure. He likes to take on opposition defenders, and averaged 1.5 successful dribbles in the league last season.
However, what makes Traore such an appealing target for Everton is his knack for scoring goals. The Burkinabe attacker has scored 20 league goals for Lyon in the past two seasons, which is quite an impressive return for a player, who mostly features in wide or central attacking roles.
That being said, there is certainly some risk involved in Traore’s acquisition given the way he struggled to impress at Chelsea earlier in his career.
The switch from Ligue 1 to the Premier League is also not the easiest, but considering he now has a lot more experience of playing for a top side, he is unlikely to do as badly as he did in the handful of chances he receives at Chelsea.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
