Sunderland are reportedly keen on Chelsea attacker Bertrand Traore.
Ajax’s Bertrand Traore
According to the Daily Mail, Sunderland have asked Chelsea about a possible loan deal for young attacker Bertrand Traore – but Schalke are also pursuing his signature.
The Black Cats have suffered relegation to the Championship, and manager David Moyes resigned last week as the club look to rebuild following their drop from the Premier League.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe in action
Whoever arrives as Moyes’ replacement, they will need to find a new striker, given that leading goalscorer Jermain Defoe is set to leave the club on a free transfer this summer, with a move back to the Premier League looking likely.
Now, the Daily Mail report that Sunderland are hoping to land Chelsea’s Bertrand Traore, and whilst the Blues want a huge £17.5million for his signature, the Black Cats will be looking to land him on loan.
Ajax’s Bertrand Traore in action with Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian
Traore, 21, joined the Chelsea academy from French club Auxerre in 2010, after hitting 20 goals in 51 games during an 18-month loan spell with Vitesse Arnhem, he bagged four goals in 16 appearances for Chelsea last term.
The Burkina Faso international was sent back out on loan this term, heading back to the Netherlands with Ajax under his former Vitesse boss Peter Bosz, and he notched 13 goals in six assists whilst playing 39 games.
Ajax’s Bertrand Traore in action with Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind
Now, Traore returns to Stamford Bridge where first-team opportunities are likely to be hard to come by, and Sunderland are hoping to land the attacker – who can play up front or out wide – on loan for the season.
However, Schalke want to sign Traore too, and their intention is to land him permanently, with the Blues slapping a £17.5million price tag on his head. Sunderland certainly can’t afford that right now, and they will be hoping that Schalke don’t meet Chelsea’s demands, putting them in contention for a loan deal.
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