Everton announce Traoré loan signing

, 24 January, 0comments  |  Jump to most recent
Deal for Ivorian striker now complete
Everton have completed the acquisition of Lacina Traoré on loan from Monaco until the end of the season.

The striker was granted a work permit earlier this week but final negotiations over the terms of the deal weren't hammered out until this afternoon.

Traoré looked to be destined to make a loan switch to West Ham earlier this month but the move fell through when Everton entered the running and offered a move more agreeable to Monaco.

Even then, the 6' 8" Ivorian's prospects of playing in the Premier League this season appeared to be threatened by a serious injury on Wednesday to Monaco's marquee striker, Radamel Falcao, but the Ligue 1 club have sanctioned the release of Traoré even though the Colombian striker is almost certainly out for the remainder of the season.

Traoré was signed by Monaco from Anzhi Makhachkala earlier this month in a deal variously reported to have been worth between £8m and £15m after spending three years in the Russian league.

He played 38 times for Kuban Krasnodar, scoring 18 times before moving on to Anzhi where he bagged 13 goals in 29 games. He also has four goals in seven international appearances for Ivory Coast.

Blues manager Roberto Martinez said that the 23 year-old will bring speed and technical ability to the squad, as well as versatility — he can play as a traditional number 9 or behind the striker.

He said that the club will make sure that the hamstring injury he recently sustained is completely healed before throwing him into Premier League action, estimating that it would be "a matter of weeks" and that he is looking to use him over the last 9 or 10 games of the campaign.

Martinez also reiterated that the arrival of Traoré will be his last piece of incoming business for the current transfer window, confirming that the Ivorian and Aiden McGeady were his two targets for January.

 



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