


Traore, who is the Gunners' third-choice left-back, is thought to be looking to gain more first-team football having spent last season on loan at Portsmouth.

McLeish may have his work cut out though as Serie A giants Juventus are thought to be offering Traore a chance to join permanently if his loan spell is successful. Birmingham's offer is thought to not contain an option for the Frenchman to sign permanently.

Should the pair join before today's 6pm deadline, their captures will go some way at least to tempering McLeish's disappointment at failing to land targets Moussa Dembele and Charles N'Zogbia over the last two weeks.

Striker Dembele opted to join Fulham instead of the midlands outfit while N'Zogbia's high wage demands reportedly led McLeish to pull the plug on a £9million transfer from Barclays Premier League rivals Wigan.



