Arsenal were linked with a series of players during Mikel Arteta’s early managerial days, but only a handful of them made their way to the Emirates Stadium.
Bournemouth star Hamed Traore was another less high-profile but interesting player to catch the Gunner’s attention in their rebuild phase.
The 24-year-old showed promise with Italian side Empoli, and the Cherries targeted him as an important midfield reinforcement. Hence, he joined Andoni Iraola’s side for £20 million last year after going through a series of loan spells.
But he never got a chance to find a breakthrough at the Southcoast, with Iraola admitting that Lewis Cook, Philipp Billing, Marcus Tavernier, and Ryan Christie were all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Though still a Bournemouth player, the African honcho is now plying trade for French outfit Auxerre, joining them on a temporary loan deal.
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They finished as runner-ups in the Ligue 2 last season, and that actually sums up how difficult things have been for Traore, who spent several years on loan. He now has the chance to prove himself in France’s top-tier league.
Arsenal once wanted Hamed Traore
GG11 agency’s Valerio Giuffrida has admitted that he is happy to see the Ivory Coast international get his career back on track. He also revealed that his client attracted interest from AC Milan and Arsenal during his early days. While speaking to Tuttomercato Web, the agent said:
“He chose to test himself in France because he knew he had to find continuity. He is demonstrating what he had shown during his time at Sassuolo, which 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 was linked with the Gunners during Arteta’s early coaching days back in 2020. At that time the teenager was playing really well for Empoli, but things have been complicated since then.
The attacking midfielder has now scored in successive games for Auxerre, something that he failed to do at Bournemouth.
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We hope that he continues to maintain his goal-scoring momentum and earn a fresh start with the Cherries next season.
