Lacina Traore: Everton sign Monaco striker on loan

Lacina Traore

Everton have confirmed that Ivory Coast forward Lacina Traore has joined the club on loan from Monaco for the remainder of the season.

Traore, 23 passed a medical this week despite a hamstring injury, and the club have been granted a work permit.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez said the 6ft 8in striker is a player who will quickly settle in at the club.

"Lacina is a player I really like. He is someone who would fit in really well in the role we want," Martinez said.

"He is a very talented footballer and has already had a couple of moves costing nearly £30m."

Traore only moved to Monaco from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala at the start of January, but the Ligue 1 club were happy to allow him to go out on loan to get more games.

West Ham had appeared to be in prime position to sign Traore on loan after they applied for a work permit on his behalf - only to lose out to Everton.

Traore, who scored 12 goals in 24 appearances during the 2012-2013 season, played alongside Chelsea forward Samuel Eto'o at Anzhi after joining from Kuban Krasnodar in June 2012.

Martinez has been on the lookout for a striker since he allowed Nikica Jelavic to join Hull earlier in the transfer window to enable the Croatia international to play more regularly ahead of the World Cup.