Lacina Traore closing in on Everton loan switch

Everton are understood to be close on sealing a deal to sign AS Monaco striker Lacina Traore on loan for the rest of the season.

The talented forward dubbed the 'Gentle Giant' joined Monaco from Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala for a fee of around £8m earlier this month, and is set to be loaned out in order to gain valuable first-team football experience.


Traore was expected to join West Ham United, with manager Sam Allardyce insisting that the club had come close to an agreement but The Express claims that the talented Ivory Coast international has chosen the Toffees over the Hammers as he does not want to join a club in a relegation battle.


Traore has been capped 7 times by the Ivory Coast.