Season › 2013-14 › News Blues close in on Traoré Lyndon Lloyd , 19 January, 0comments | Jump to most recent Traore is snapped in Tesco's in Huyton in a photo currently circulating on Twitter Updated Everton are close to securing Lacina Traoré on loan from Monaco for the rest of the season, with the 6 8" man on Merseyside today to undergo a medical. In a mobile phone photo circulating on Twitter, Traoré was snapped in Tesco's in Huyton earlier today trying his best to remain inconspicuous despite his giant frame. The Ivorian international looked set to join West Ham this past week after the East London outfit agreed the loan move with the French club and were granted a work permit on appeal. The West Ham board hesitated to push through the paperwork, however, when Traoré sustained a minor hamstring strain in training and Roberto Martinez stepped in with a loan proposal of his own. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce admitted today that the player was now going elsewhere, saying: "I had a terrible day yesterday when I found out a player was going elsewhere. If we got a permit for him, so will they." The "they" in question is believed to be Everton and with Traoré having apparently agreed on the loan switch, all that remains is the issuance of a new work permit to enable the 23 year-old to play for the Blues. Traoré moved to France from Anzhi Makhachkala last summer for a whopping £15m but has yet to play a game in Ligue 1 — it was always Monaco's intention to loan him out to gain first-team experience elsewhere. He played 29 times for Anzhi, scoring 13 goals. About these ads © ToffeeWeb