Lingering just outside the top half of the table at the moment, Mark Hughes’ Stoke City side will not be happy with the progress they have made since the end of the previous season.
But the manager is convinced that they are going in the right direction and is looking to add a couple of stars to his squad to help them compete with the best next season.
Out of the many stars that are linked with a move to Stoke, one player who might have a huge effect on the squad is Hamidou Traore. For all who are unfamiliar, here is a peek into his scout report:
Born and brought up in Bamako, Mali, Traore started his youth career at Elazığspor, a club in his home country. He earned a move to club Bamako a few years later but in his two seasons there, he could make just two senior appearances and was sold back to Elazığspor in 2015.
In his latest yeas at the club, Traore has started to blossom into a top-class star and now stands as one of the most effective players for his domestic side.
Capable of playing as a winger, Traore is a versatile central midfielder who loves to dictate the terms in the midfield for his side. Standing at just 5’ 7”, he is not the tallest player around but he is not one bit weak in winning ariel duels.
He is strong for a player his age and knows how to use that to his advantage, which allows him to give his side an extra edge in the midfield.
But his biggest strength is his attacking attributes, which saw him score five goals and pick up four further assists in the domestic league in his country this season.
He is not a creative midfielder that can create chances for his side but is a smart customer who knows how to find space and time in dangerous areas, which is always handy.
Mark Hughes has used Joe Allen, Giannelli Imbula, Charlie Adam and Glenn Whelan in a deeper midfield role but has not been able to find the right balance this season.
Charlie Adam has turned 31 and is not going to stay there for long and though Imbula and Whelan have done a decent job alongside Joe Allen, Hughes will want another player to back up this crop in the middle of the park and should think about spending on Hamidou Traore.
Traore and his smart head on his shoulders will make this Stoke City side a bit more solid in midfield and he will also allow Joe Allen to venture further forward.
Traore is not a CDM but he has what it takes to shut shop at the back and add to it his ability to create and score goals, which makes him a genuine option for Stoke this summer.
At just 20, he will learn a lot of things in his first season and can come good in years to come. Do you think Traore is a good option for Stoke City?
