Premier League duo Everton and Stoke City are targeting a summer move for Chelsea striker Bertrand Traore, according to French media outlet Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness).
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a prolific season on loan at Dutch giants Ajax, netting 13 times in all competitions to help the club to second place in the Eredivisie, four points behind leaders Feyenoord, and to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
In fact, the Chelsea loanee was the star of the show in their 4-1 thumping of Lyon in the last four of Europe’s secondary competition on Wednesday night, bagging a brace and laying on an assist to put Peter Bosz’s side on the brink of a place in the final.
And Traore’s stunning form for Ajax hasn’t gone unnoticed around the continent either, with Premier League outfits Everton and Stoke reportedly part of a Europe-wide pursuit for the Burkina Faso international, alongside the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, and Monaco.
The 21-year-old, despite his excellent campaign in the Netherlands, is unlikely to force his way into Antonio Conte’s first team plans at Stamford Bridge next term, even if current first-choice forward Diego Costa does leave this summer, and thus a loan deal may be an option for Ronald Koeman’s Toffees and Mark Hughes’ Potters.
Everton may be planning for a future without star striker Romelu Lukaku, with the 23-year-old rejecting a new contract off a few months back, while Hughes will be looking at how he can take his Stoke side to the next level with it looking likely to be another top half finish for the Potters.
And there’s little doubt that, after the season he has had, Traore could be the man to help those sides make the step up next term.