Milan urged to sign ‘very intelligent’ Sassuolo forward by his former coach | OneFootball

AC Milan have been urged to try and sign Sassuolo forward Hamed Junior Traore by his former coach at the youth sector of Empoli.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the 22-year-old attacking midfielder could well be a concrete summer transfer target for Milan, while SportMediaset then claimed that a Locatelli-style formula of a paid loan with obligation to buy is what the management are hoping for.

Traore was born in the Ivory Coast but moved to Italy at a young age where he joined the youth system of Empoli, playing there from 2017 until 2019 when Sassuolo signed him on a two-year loan with an option to buy, which they exercised.

He could well be decisive for Milan next season in their bid to defend their Scudetto – something you can bet on with CasinoHawks.com – given he scored 7 league goals last season, but what could fans expect?

While he was with Empoli he was coached by Alessandro Dal Canto who answered some questions from MilanNews about what could be expected from the Ivorian.

Did you expect such an exponential growth from Traore?

“When players have such a rapid explosion it is always difficult to predict. Surely we immediately realised that we were in front of a player of great prospect as he was playing three years above his age. Even then he also had great physicality, brilliance and was able to exploit his body according to the plays. Over the years he has been improving.”

How do you judge him today looking at him from the outside?

“Very intelligent, especially in the last year he has gained great awareness and I think he can test himself on a great stage like San Siro.”

Is Traorè ready for a move to Milan?

“Personally, I hope so then it will have to be the pitch that he gives his response. Going to a fresh Scudetto team can have advantages and disadvantages. A great mental temperament will be needed.”

Can he be identified as the natural substitute for Kessie?

“I’m not of that idea. Junior is more attacking, he tends to fit in and attack the space behind. He, too, tactically, he can have a different position.

“At Sassuolo he was an attacking midfielder, he played close to the forwards, sometimes he was also employed as a winger. He combines large work rate and has his own qualities.”

As a good defender yourself, is it right for Milan to look for another centre-back despite the fact that the defence was so good last season?

“The competitions are many and at the management and technical staff level the Rossoneri have shown that they have very clear ideas. I really think they pondered all the movements to be done with extreme meticulousness.”

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