juanes Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Club:CFR Cluj Nationality:Ivory coast Age:20 Height:2.03 m / 6.66 ft Weight:85 kg / 187 lbs Position:Striker http://www.cfr1907.ro/images/echipa/35traore.gif With 4-5-1 such a popular formation in European football, all the top clubs are looking for a striker that can lead the line, hold the ball up and score goals. Strikers such as Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor are becoming the prototype, as they can play with another striker but also muscle their way past defenders when playing on their own up front. The major European clubs have long been aware of Lacina Traore - at 6.7ft he has been difficult to avoid. The Ivory Coast striker, who has yet to play for the Flying Elephants, is considered a huge talent and has been included in Sven Goran Eriksson’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad. Traore is a huge talent. This very tall striker has good technique despite his height and also decent pace, especially over long distances. He can score many goals with his head and also with both feet. Despite being Ivorian, Traore has been described as “the new Adebayor” since he reminds fans and pundits of the Togo striker, he is a nimble and quick striker ready for the next step in his career. The talented striker began his career at Jean-Marc Guillou's football school Academie de Sol Beni which was where Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure learnt the game. In 2008 he made his professional debut for Stade Abidjan and quickly made an impression with four goals in ten appearances in the Ivory Coast Championnat National. In early 2009 he joined CFR Cluj who showed their growing prominence in European football. Traore played a limited role in the second half of last season, scoring one goal in five appearances as his new side finished fourth in the Romanian Liga I after impressing in the Champions League. Season 2009/2010 has seen Traore emerge as a much more important player at CFR Cluj, as he scored eight goals in 33 appearances. These statistics are even more impressive considering he rarely plays 90 minutes as the Romanian side are still conscious of the fact that he is still young. Some of Traore’s goals have been hugely impressive and prove his undoubted talent. He claimed a terrific right footed goal against Otelul Galati in August and in the following month claimed another fine solo goal against FC Copenhagen in the Europa League. He does though have some clear weaknesses. Traore has a lot to learn in terms of positioning, balance and passing, but shows very good promise for his age. He is also very hot tempered, as can be shown by the five yellow cards he picked up this season. And whilst he is quick many scouts have suggested he doesn’t “punch his weight” as he should for a striker so tall. In many ways the hype around Traore has been more impressive than his statistics in what has been a short career so far. Arsenal were heavily linked with him in January and he said at the time: "It is sensational to hear [Arsene] Wenger is watching me." Arsenal are though just one of many clubs to have scouted Traore. Lazio, Hamburg, Udinese and CSKA Moscow were all linked and just this week reports in Italy suggested Napoli were also interested. During the January transfer window CFR Cluj president Iuliu Muresan said they were looking for a fee of four million euros to sell Traore. As ever, there are a number of young players emerging in world football who look like they have the world at their feet. Neymar and Romelu Lukaku are just two examples and Lacina Traore , who can be purchased for a relatively small fee, could also be a major name in the coming years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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