Questions will inevitably arise as reports emerge claiming that West Ham United are pursuing a potential £17 million deal for one of the forgotten men of Premier League football.
In fact, the last time the alleged West Ham United target featured for his parent club in England’s top flight, he was stepping off the bench during the final few minutes of Brighton’s 3-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth all the way back in September 2023.
So, why has Hamed Junior Traore found himself on the Hammers’ radar now, almost two years since his most recent Premier League outing?
Well, West Ham’s interest certainly has little to do with his impact at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth signed the Ivory Coast international from Sassuolo after an impressive run of displays over in Italy. Due to a combination of injury and illness, however, Traore has started only five league games during his time with Andoni Iraola’s upwardly-mobile outfit.
An underwhelming loan spell at Napoli did little to kick-start Traore’s career. Though much to Bournemouth’s relief, another temporary stint – this time in France with Auxerre – could yet see the Cherries recoup the majority of their ill-fated £21 million investment.
West Ham United eye Bournemouth’s forgotten man Hamed Junior Traore
French publication Foot Mercato write that West Ham are among a number of clubs ‘monitoring’ Traore’s situation ahead of the summer window.
Bournemouth are hoping to bring in £17 million, with both Bologna and Atalanta also ready to offer a Serie A lifeline to a midfielder who began his career with Empoli.
It is in Ligue 1, though, where 25-year-old Traore has enjoyed the most productive spell of his topsy-turvy career.
Only one central midfielder in France’s top flight – Keito Nakamura at Stade Reims – has more goals this term than Traore. His impressive tally of ten from 26 starts, meanwhile, secured Auxerre a more-than-respectable 11th place finish during their first season back in the big time.
“He chose to test himself in France because he knew he had to find continuity,” Toure’s agent Valerio Giuffrida told Tuttomercatoweb last year, while confirming Arsenal had made their interest known during his time with Sassuolo.
“He is demonstrating what he had shown during his time at Sassuolo, [where Traore’s displays] made him one of the strongest players in the championship.
“Some unfortunate events – such as a foot injury and an infection contracted in Africa – affected two years of his career, preventing him from playing regularly. He is returning to the player we knew, and who had attracted the attention of important clubs such as Milan and Arsenal.”
Traore could help replace Tomas Soucek if he leaves West Ham
This is, of course, a West Ham midfield light on both energy and goal threat.
The potential departure of Tomas Soucek – Leeds and Everton have held talks – would also rob Graham Potter of his most reliable goalscorer outside of Jarrod Bowen.
Traore, still yet to hit his peak, would bring to the London Stadium some much-needed athleticism as well as the ability to emulate Soucek’s box-crashing talents. A highly athletic midfielder and an excellent ball carrier, the Abidjan-born ace also possesses the ability to pick the right passes at the right time while moving at full speed.
In short, a lot of the qualities West Ham are currently lacking in the centre of the park, Traore can provide.
“He is a great talent,” says Roberto de Zerbi, the former Brighton boss singing his one-time Sassuolo star’s praises before a Ligue 1 clash between Marseille and Auxerre. “I trained him when he was younger. He is also a very courageous person.”
“His main qualities are his ease with the ball, always [playing] with his head up, and his great vision of the game,” one-time Ivory Coast coach Patrice Beaumelle explains, in quotes reported by Football365. He has this ability to keep the ball when necessary. I found natural qualities in him.
“In his development, I think he will make an impression in France and in Europe. Take [ex-Atalanta, Milan and Barcelona star] Franck Kessie. It was when he arrived at AC Milan that we saw what a top player he was.
“If [Traore] makes the right choices, I see this type of trajectory for him.”
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