AJ Auxerre have been looking to recruit an attacking midfielder since Gauthier Hein made the shock decision to remain in Ligue 2 and join FC Metz, just days before the start of the Ligue 1 season. Hein was central to AJA’s promotion campaign and left a large void to fill.
Alexis Claude-Maurice, a free agent since the expiry of his contract at OGC Nice, was one of the key targets, however, according to L’Équipe, Auxerre recently turned towards Bournemouth’s Hamed Junior Traoré (24), who spent the second half of last season on loan at Napoli. The Ivory Coast international, who made 17 appearances for the Serie A side in all competitions last season, has failed to cement a place in the first-team set-up since making the €26m move to England back in 2023.
Traoré has not featured for the Cherries yet this season, and in the search of game time, he is now on the verge of joining recently-promoted Auxerre on a loan deal, which will not include the option to make the move permanent. Traoré is set to undergo his medical on Tuesday.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
