Premier League midfielder Hamid Traore of Bournemouth is set to join Ligue 1 newcomers Auxerre on loan, according to a new report from leading French sports outlet L'Equipe. The Ivory Coast international is expected to undergo a medical at Auxerre on Tuesday local time to make final preparations to join.
Auxerre have been actively searching for a replacement for their team's central striker Eoin since sending him off this summer. They had set their sights on Claude Maurice, who is out of contract with Nice and back to free agency, but seem to be favoring Bournemouth's Traore more recently. Traore had a loan spell with Serie A side Napoli in the second half of last season and played 11 games for the side, including the league, to gain some match experience.
However, since moving to Bournemouth in 2023 for a whopping €25.6 million, Traore has not been able to establish himself in the team. He has yet to record an appearance for Bournemouth so far this season, which has prompted him to seek to join another team on loan for more playing opportunities.
It is reported that Traore's loan contract with Auxerre will not include any buyout clause, which means he will still return to Bournemouth after his loan expires. For Traore, joining Auxerre will be an important turning point in his career, and he is expected to rediscover his form and prove himself in his new team.
