Hamed Junior Traore is ready to join Napoli on an initial loan deal with an option to buy from Bournemouth and will boost Walter Mazzarri’s options in attack and midfield in the second part of the season, but must be used wisely by the Partenopei.
The 23-year-old is expected to undergo his medical with the defending Serie A champions on Tuesday, completing an initial loan deal with an option to buy for €25m.
A former Sassuolo man, Traore had joined Bournemouth on loan just a year ago and the Premier League side made his move permanent for €25.5m last summer.
However, he’s been struggling with playing time in England, scoring just one goal in 13 appearances across all competitions. His spell at Bournemouth was affected by a foot injury that kept him out of action for 11 matches last season, while this past December, the Cherries announced the 23-year-old had been hospitalised after being diagnosed with malaria, so he missed six more matches.
Traore was one of the most exciting young Serie A players last season and has already collected 140 appearances in Italy’s top flight, scoring 18 goals, so he can surely be an added value for Napoli in the second part of the campaign.
Traore can be deployed as a central midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation or even as an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system. On paper, he will replace Piotr Zielinski, who is expected to leave the club at the end of his contract in June.
The attacking midfielder role seems to be Traore’s favourite position, as he has collected 15 goals and 14 assists in 98 games when playing as CAM.
However, he has also played as a secondary striker and left and right winger during his career. Overall, he scored 11 goals in 34 appearances when playing on the flanks.
The Ivory Coast international will surely provide different tactical solutions to Mazzarri, but he must be used wisely to avoid tactical confusion for him and the rest of the team, which is fighting for a European placement this season.