Sport.co.uk can confirm that FC Cluj giant striker Lacina Traore looks set to leave the club in the January transfer window with a number of top European clubs vying for position in the battle for the Ivorian’s signature.
The player’s chief representative Thomas Boehm told Sport.co.uk in an exclusive interview that the aim was to find Traore a top European club in the January transfer window inviting offers for the player with the forward likely to leave.
“Yes, it looks like he might leave.” Boehm told Sport.co.uk.
“To be honest Liverpool have not spoken to me, they may have spoken to the club. There is a lot of interest from the Premier League but I cannot name clubs as you know. We will see in the coming weeks who gets in contact with a firm offer.”
The 20-year-old 6ft 8in striker was linked heavily with a move to Arsenal in last year’s January transfer window, however it is unlikely Gunner’s boss Arsene Wenger is in the market for a striker having purchased Moroccan hit-man Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer.
Traore has been watched closely by scouts from a number of top European clubs including Bayern Munich and Arsenal, while Liverpool, Aston Villa and Fulham are the latest sides to join the hunt for the giant frontman.
New Liverpool Director of Football Strategy Damien Commolli is an admirer of the forward and has had scouts watch the Ivorian, while Villa boss Gerard Houllier and Cottagers chief Mark Hughes are also among the interested parties.
The Ivorian, who has yet to be capped by Cote d’Ivoire, began his career at ASEC Mimosas under Jean Marc Guiilou, a close friend of Wenger who has helped develop the likes of Manchester City pair Kolo and Yaya Toure, Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue, and Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou.
