Napoli are reportedly still toying with the idea of signing Bournemouth midfielder Hamed Traore on a permanent basis.
When the Cherries signed Traore on an initial loan deal from Sassuolo in January 2023, it came with the obligation of a £25m permanent transfer.
However, the powers-that-be at the Vitality Stadium would not have been overly keen to pay that figure on the back of just five starts and two substitute outings coming in the second half of the previous Premier League campaign.
Now on a full-time contract, Traore would make just three substitute outings in the top flight during the first half of 2023-24, partly due to contracting malaria at the back end of the year.
Nevertheless, Traore was never viewed as a first-choice option by new head coach Andoni Iraola and the Ivory Coast international was subsequently allowed to link up with Napoli on loan.
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Since then, largely under new boss Francesco Calzona, the 24-year-old has proven to be an asset to the senior squad, making five starts and two substitute outings in all competitions.
Traore started the 2-1 victory over Juventus in Serie A, as well as the 3-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League, with both selections indicating that he is currently in favour.
That said, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Napoli hierarchy are yet to decide whether they want to retain Traore's services for next season and beyond.
The 2023 Italian champions have the option to push through a £25m deal, but it appears that they may not automatically look to exercise that option.
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Much may depend on who is in charge of Napoli after the end of the season, with it not a foregone conclusion that Calzona will stay in the dugout courtesy of his responsibilities with Slovakia.
From Bournemouth's perspective, they have seemingly moved on from Traore and are plausibly hopeful that Napoli wish to sign him on a permanent basis.
The South Coast outfit have been short of major sales of late and presumably wish to change that in order to continue to give Iraola freedom when it comes to strengthening his squad in the future.
As far as Napoli are concerned, they have allegedly already decided against activating their option to sign another of their loanees in Leander Dendoncker.
Darren Plant
