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Promotion hopefuls yet without a knack for scoring goals, Middlesbrough must look to solve that issue with the signing of Lacina Traore, even after Jordan Hugill bagged a brace against Wigan.

What’s the word?

After 17 games in the Championship this season, Boro sit high in the table with promotion in their minds having wracked up 31 points – just two fewer than league leaders Norwich.

While the Canaries may have conceded 12 more times than Pulis’ side, they have also scored nine more, only five of the 24 sides in the division have netted fewer than the Smoggies.

Hugill's brace on Saturday was the forward’s first goals of the season and came at a time his side had only found the net once in their last three. Traore, meanwhile, has been without a club since July when Monaco let his contract lapse on the back of a loan spell with SC Amiens.

The towering 6ft 8in centre-forward lost his magic in front of the goal during a torrid loan spell at Everton previously, featuring just the twice for the Toffees thanks to a hamstring injury.

Now, the striker could be signed for nothing more than personal terms and wage demands.

Why Traore?

The striker lost his way after arriving in England having flourished for Anzhi Makhachkala in the Russian Premier League. Despite a goal in the FA Cup, the injury was the residing memory the 13-cap Ivory Coast international left in the country.

Further injuries saw Traore’s impact diminish in France, too, having returned to Monaco after his loan on Merseyside. Now, his career is at a crossroads.

Pulis must be the man to tie one of the world’s tallest players down to a contract as the striker is perfect for the Welshman's set-up thanks to his height and physicality.

With Traore spearheading the attack, Boro can ping the play to the wings and lump the ball up top when needed, knowing they have a target man that will get into the box and cause the opposition problems.

The addition of a clear out-and-out target man will also allow Pulis to utilise different systems when Britt Assombalonga is struggling for form, or simply have an alternative to call on from the bench if plan A is not producing the desired result.