Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is reportedly set to test Arsenal’s resolve during the January transfer window with a permanent offer for on loan winger Armand Traoré.
The Frenchman has started every single game since joining Pompey during the summer, and was particularly impressive during the historic 2-0 victory over Vitória Guimarães in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. Not only has his performances endeared him to Redknapp, but also his willingness to learn from the experienced coaching staff on the South Coast.
Rumours have been circulating that Traoré would be interested in a potential switch, although his preference is to come back to Arsenal. Armand has only recently put pen-to-paper on a new contract with the Gunners, but officials from Portsmouth believe they can snatch his signature.
Kieran Gibbs and Pedro Botelho will both go head to head to be second choice behind Gael Clichy next year, a position previously held by Traoré. He is now considered as more of a winger than defender, but the competition for places on the flank is just as strong.
The Frenchman is just 18-years-old, but it would take a large fee to convince Arsene Wenger to sell the fleet footed winger – something Pompey are doubtful to stretch to. But with plenty of options already available, an offer of £5 million could swing the balance.
Article By – J.Sanderson
I think it would be a huge waste to let Armand go at 18, he has so much potential as his performances for Pompey and our reserves has shown. I believe it would take far more than £5 million to tempt Wenger at this stage. For me, Pedro, Gibbs and Traoré should fight it out and then we can see who should stay and who should go. And I honestly believe that Traoré would come out on top
Traore’s potential is clearer than most. If he were to contest with gibbs and pedro he’d beat them hands down and then some. We really lack good quality out and out wingers at arsenal and traore can go a long way to helping us with that. If you look already at the impact riera has had at liverpool by bringing width then I think that proves the point. If walcott does end up a striker then already we’ve lost a wide man. Traore has a great future at this club; why get rid of him?
Wow, Sunsational tabloid speculation!
Groovy!
Traore is a Gooner, no chance, NEXT!
Even in the flanks, we don’t really have plenty of options tbh. Walcott and Nasri are the only players we can rely on a consistent basis. Rosicy is almost always injured while Eboue is also the 2nd chioce RB now that Hoyte has left.
Vela,Eduardo and to a lesser extent RVP can play there. But they are not very viable options to help us through the course of a season.
I would much prefer Traore to learn his trade as a winger while also brushing up on his defensive skills. He can then compete with Pedro and Gibbs for the spots on the left hand side of defence and midfield.
I’m getting sick of ‘arry poaching our players. Some we want to get rid of, others not. GET OFF OUR BALLS HARRY. No way will be let traore go, wenger knows better than anyone how much of a special talent traore is.
too early to start turning the boys head. he still has alot to prove. He’s not the greatest player, but needs 10 games under his belt to become maybe a stronger player. If Wenger really wants to consider selling him, then we should use him as bait to bring back Diarra or lure Kranjcar to the Emirates
I´d be devastated if Mr. Wenger would let him go… even if we could get somethig like 7-9 million pounds from him.. imagine his potential and being just 18 he has got whole future ahead of him..
1-1 under 18s great team goal
I throught he had just signed a new contract at Arsenal. Cant see Arsenal selling him TBH
2 1 Emmanuel thomas
Where are you getting your updates from Randall?
he’s at the game i think
the game must have finished by now, what was the final score?
At the game doing updates on phone lost 3 2
I was thinking the same, it must take at least 5 millions to buy him. But after thinking more about it, why would we sell him for only 5 millions. I mean he is an ever around figure for Portsmouth at just 18 so he must be worth more. Anybody that can get into the Pompey squad must be at least 5 millions worth but Traore is only 18. So basically it’s a double edged sword for Harry. If Armand plays well, we will be reluctant to sell him, we will demand more for him and other teams will get interested. But of course Harry wants him to play well so he can help the team.
In my opinion, we should never sell him in January. I say that we let him play at the south coast for the entire campaign and then see. If he keeps on with his current progress, Gibbs should be sold and Traore brought back in. If he is judged not good enough despite his potential (like Muamba, Bentley and others) then we must be able to get a higher price for him after a hopefully successful campaign for Redknapp’s men.
Ps. even if Traore doesn’t make it, I still can’t see a future for Gibbs at the club. Both Traore and Pedro seem like better prospects and Gibbs positional awareness is quite scary when he plays at left back. Hopefully he gets a run out in the CC but a loan move next semester is something I would prefer.
i reckon wenger will want to see if traore can make it in the first team, no way will he sell in jan. If he does go it won’t be for at least 2 seasons surely. but then again u think of silvestre and u wonder just what is going on in arsene’s mind after all.
Traore is miles better than kranjcar and diaby and denilson are both better than diarra so who needs them, we should give randall a run out in the fa cup against on of the worser teams as he is playing great at the moment for the reserves.
how about selling him with a buy back option as real madrid so often do
I would say at least 7-8 millions + 40-50% sell on clause. He has immense potential, he just has to work his mind.
And it’s way too early to sell, he should stay at least for another season.
If you look at past form, Wenger really likes Traore (playing him incredibly early in his career and trusting him alone against Alves+Navas etc.!) and the only other players who spring to mind that have gone to Premiership clubs on loan (Song-Charlton and Djorou-Brum) have come back with le boss expecting them to push the first team instead of selling up.
Traore will definitly stay imo.
This article has no substance. Jay you dont have to write articles daily if there is nothing to write about otherwise this blog will end up being no different form 100 of other gooner blogs. Peace
Exactly Seabass!
Pure speculation and we got peeps goin on about how much we should sell Traore for!
Hahahahahahahahahahahaa!
Not at all, i have plently of things to write about today, as you will see a little later.
I have spoken to a Portsmouth Reserves player who gave me this info, so it has some substance.
The comment section is for debate, people are debating selling him, it’s fans opinions. You would be an idiot to read to much into it.
What are you Spike? 11, 12 years old?
I really hope he comes back to the gunners he is a really good talent
http://themostbeautifulgame.com
I hope he doesn’t leave and why are people doubting this article j’s articles are usualy correct
It’s just speculation, J is simply letting us know, good work mate.
This is fuckin bullshit if it happens – and it fuckin will. I near he was gone as soon as I heard he had been sent on loan. They almost never come back.
http://www.arsenalspot.webs.com
I wouldn’t like to see Traore go. 18 years old and standing at 6’2″ he gives us much needed height. I see him as the understudy to Clichy rather than Gibbs and Pedro (who is also quite tall). But I would keep them all if possible. Traore is better going forwards than Clichy but not as good defensively but that comes with age and experience. It’s obvious that he wasn’t going to get much playing time to develop further with us this season and I can’t see Wenger getting rid of him.
I think Wenger should start playing these younger players in CC and FA Cup. I would much rather see Wenger sacrifice FA Cup and push for league title and CL than start playing and tiring out our first team members by playing them in the domestic cups. That’s what fucked us up last season.
I think Gibbs is playing as left back as Flamini did the year before, to learn his positional awareness, so i think Traore and Pedro are more likely to be Clichy”s understudies.
Traore is much better going forward then Clichy as he can get pass a player easier due to have more of a trick, and i think his final delivery is better then Clichy’s. So keep him , Wenger but i have no doubt he will
Traore could become one of the worlds best wingers. Hes got pace, strength and skill, we-d be idiotic if we let him go, espcially for 5mil because if he develops to his full potential he could one day be worth more like 20 or even 30.
how fast is Traore? I have seen him far to rarely, a guy once told me he’s faster than Walcott!
I think we will let him go, and to be honest I think people here overate him. He’s good and he’s young but meh, not overly impressed.
Dream on Harry
No, please no! Keep Armand!!
“He’s good and he’s young but meh, not overly impressed.”
For an 18 year old? I meen come on, people say players like Kieran Gibbs, Randall and Simpson could have a future with us and i agree with them, but Traore is better than all of them. For the reserves he was often the star player last season, sure he has weeknesses but between now and 21 he can work on those, and he has obvious strengths where he can only get better and better.
Make business sense only if Traoré is part of swap deal with Portmouth’s midfielder Niko Kranjar
I think we’ll probably end up selling Rosicky soon, the guy is quality but is never fit. Traore can then come back and compete on the left with Nasri.
you can have krancjar for £1 and a packet of wine gums, if we can have traore
Kofi said, “…They almost never come back….”
Like Bendtner, Djourou, Randall, Gibbs, Song, Vela etc etc, you mean?
I don’t want to sell Armand for any price so Harry send our boy back after this season thank you very much.
Sounds good to me O La La. A straight swap for Krancjar would be good business. Wenger should do it.