They key question Portsmouth must ask themselves after £11m Wolves midfielder linked
Pompey want to upgrade their defensive midfield options befoe the close of the summer transfer window
Pompey’s need for a defensive midfielder is well-documented, a fact reinforced during the capitulation against QPR last Saturday.
And along with head coach John Mousinho, the Fratton faithful know precisely what the Blues want. They’re craving a combative, high-octane enforcer who can not only dictate the tempo of the game but also protect a defence that has already conceded six goals from two 2026-27 games.
With that in mind, Pompey’s reported pursuit of Wolves midfielder Boubacar Traore is understandable.
Following failed moves for Gibson Yah and Jesper Ceesay this summer, it emerged on Friday that the Blues, along with Racing Santander, had supposedly made enquiries for the 25-year-old Mali international.
Despite costing the Old Gold £11m in 2023, Traore finds himself out in the cold at Molineux under new manager Cesar Peixoto, making him a highly enticing prospect for any club, let alone Pompey.
And If you take note of the glowing testimonies of those who have managed him at the highest level, Traore possesses the raw, unadulterated talent to transform the Blues’ engine room.
When the dynamic midfielder originally arrived in English football back in September 2022 on loan from Metz, then-Wolves boss Bruno Lage was thoroughly enamoured by his capabilities.
‘As a midfielder, he's very strong to recovering the ball and also he's strong to build the game. That's the real strength that he has,’ said Lage.
‘In that position, he's very strong to recover, he can give us a big impact in that part of the pitch.’
That ability outlined is exactly why top-flight managers have routinely waxed lyrical about Troure, who spent last season on loan at former club Metz.
Following a Premier League loss to Arsenal in April 2024, Gary O'Neil singled out the Malian for praise during an availability crisis, calling him a ‘phenomenal’ performer who brought much-needed grit to his side.
But, for all his undeniable quality, any potential deal struck by Blues sporting director Rich Hughes represents an almighty, high-stakes gamble.
Unfortunately, Traore’s career to date has been fundamentally dictated by the treatment room rather than his performances on the pitch, with his development often derailed by a fragile medical record.
Amid a career restricted by knee injuries, muscle problems, shoulder issues and knocks, his most worrying setback came in September 2024, when a meniscus tear required surgery and triggered a gruelling 153-day spell on the sidelines.
The worry also for Pompey is that those injury issues have not subsided. During his recent loan spell back at former club FC Metz, a calf tear suffered in March forced him out of action for another two months - one of four injuries suffered during his stint back at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.
Following a sobering 3-1 Fratton Park defeat to the Rs in their Championship opener last weekend, it is obvious Mousinho requires higher-quality, physical reinforcements in the centre of the park to really compete at this level.
While the return of club captain Marlon Pack from knee surgery offers a massive boost, relying on the 35-year-old during another relentless 46-game league campaign is a dangerous strategy.
Traore, undoubtedly, represents a potentially eye-catching signing, a destructive, athletic powerhouse capable of commanding the division.
However, given his injury record, Pompey must ask themselves a key question: are they willing to take a risk it all on a player who is undeniably brilliant, but is dangerously fragile?