Djimi Traore eager to earn Birmingham City deal

Feb 14 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

DJIMI Traore has revealed he is already planning to play for Blues beyond his initial three-month loan deal.

The former Liverpool defender has escaped Portsmouth’s reserves and is now eager to return to first-team football at St Andrew’s.

Traore faces a tough task to climb above Liam Ridgewell, Franck Queudre and David Murphy in the pecking order on the left-hand side of the Blues defence.

However, the confident Mali international is not only aiming to earn a place in Blues’ back-line over the coming weeks, he also wants to convince new boss Alex McLeish to hand him a permanent deal at the end of the season.

“Right now I’m looking for a flat in Birmingham with my girlfriend and baby because in my own head I’m not coming here for a short period,” said Traore.

“I want to be here for the longer term and I will try to win a contract, that’s my aim.

“I don’t just want to be here for three months, my contract is up at Portsmouth at the end of the season and I want to move here. I feel confident in myself and in my own ability so now I just have to produce some good performances.

‘‘If I know the manager has confidence in me then I will be at my best and I will do anything to win a permanent contract.”