Sunderland thinking big with approach for Chelsea’s Bertrand Traore – fighting losing battle?

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Chelsea could let Bertrand Traore leave once again this summer and it appears that recently relegated Sunderland would jump at the chance to sign him.

Would Bertrand Traore really be willing to take on Ipswich Town and Barnsley just a few short months after powering one of Europe’s most exciting young sides to their first European final in two decades?

It appears that Sunderland are hoping he would. The Daily Mail claims that The Black Cats have asked about taking the Chelsea-owned, £17.5 million striker on a season-long loan.

Sunderland are certainly thinking big. The report adds that Schalke and Lyon, who both witnessed Traore’s talents first-hand as his Ajax side knocked them out of the Europa League en route to the final in Stockholm, are also keen to sign him this summer.

However, if the 21-year-old is to prove that he can make the grade in England, another loan spell abroad would not make a lot of sense.

Traore netted 13 goals in all competitions as Ajax finished runners-up in both the Eredivisie and Europa League in 2016/17, two years after plundering 17 for Dutch rivals Vitesse Arnhem.

However, the Burkina Faso international has played just ten league games in England and it remains uncertain whether he could make the grade at a club of Chelsea’s stature.

Sunderland would certainly be willing to give him a chance, his commendable work-rate, superb movement and versatility in attack certain to add a degree of cutting edge to a blunt forward line resigned to losing talisman Jermain Defoe.

Nonetheless, it appears unlikely that Chelsea will let Traore move to a Championship club. Unlike Tammy Abraham, who scored for fun at Bristol City in 2016/17, Traore is already proven in a major European competition.

Tammy Abraham made the most of his chance at Bristol City

Therefore, shipping him out to another Premier League club makes far more sense. Only that would provide an accurate barometer of his chances of succeeding at Stamford Bridge.