In the English "Premier" League, the club occupying the 6th place has added two new players to its ranks - until the end of this season, the team has rented the French (U-21) youth defender Arnold Mvuemba and acquired London defender Djimi Traore for a sum of 1 million pounds sterling.
The latter has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the new club. In the summer, the defender was sold to "Liverpool" for 2 million pounds by the "Charlton" team, but he failed to make a big impression and played only twelve matches.
D. Traore was attracted to the "Charlton" team by replacing head coach Alan Curbishley, who had handed over to the club at the age of 15, but he managed just 12 matches with the new team and was dismissed. Later, Les Reed, who had worked unsuccessfully with the team, also resigned, and former "West Ham" strategist Alan Pardew took over the team.
For the 26-year-old player, this season has been quite unsuccessful, as in his debut match with "West Ham" the defender was sent off the field, and in September he suffered a leg injury - his bone was fractured.
In the "Charlton" team, D. Traore will most likely replace "Man City" defender Ben Thatcher, as both clubs have already agreed on the transfer fee.
The Malian national team defender has previously played for French teams such as "Laval", "Metz", and "Lens".
Furthermore, the defender helped "Liverpool" triumph in the UEFA Champions League in 2005 against Italy's "Milan", when the "Reds" managed to recover from a 3-0 result and secure a historic victory after an 11-meter penalty shoot-out. D. Traore wore the "Liverpool" team's jersey 160 times.
Demonstrating excellent form this season, "Portsmouth" has also rented a defender from France, A. Mvuemba, until the end of this season. The 21-year-old player, who belongs to the eleventh in the French "Ligue 1" championship, successfully passed the review and will move to "Pompey", where he will represent until this summer.
The "Portsmouth" club rented the player with the option to buy him permanently and enter into a long-term contract if he leaves a sufficient impression at "Fratton Park".