Five facts about Liverpool transfer target Lacina Traore

Reports from Spain have today suggested that Liverpool are close to bringing Traore to Anfield as their first summer signing.

What can we tell you about him?

1) The first thing to stand out about Traore is his height. He is 6 foot 8, taller than Peter Crouch and the same height as Nikola Zigic.

2) Lacina Traore is a striker, born in the Ivory Coast. He is only 22-years-old, and relies on not only his aerial ability, but his pace and power too.

3) He currently plays for Russian Premier League club Kuban Krasnodar, after signing from Romanian side Cluj last summer for £5 million. He scored 18 goals in 38 games for the club in his debut season.

4) Traore has Champions League experience, scoring goals against Roma, Basel, and Copenhagen.

5) He was linked with signing for Swansea City in April, lending credence to the rumours Brendan Rodgers is interested in signing him. He has previously been linked with both Chelsea and Arsenal. And no, he's not related to Djimi...

Traore to Liverpool: source

Watch Traore in action for Kuban Krasnodar...

Would Traore be a good signing for Liverpool?

image: © 36-degrees

Dan Coombs

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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.

As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.

He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.