The Blades are operating to a tight budget despite winning promotion to the Premier League, but Paul Heckingbottom wants more firepower and he is keen on Traore.
The 20-year-old attacker is on the books at Swedish side Hacken and has drawn interest from a number of clubs this summer.
Both Celtic and Rangers are credited with wanting to take Traore to Scotland, but the player is set for Sheffield United.
He prefers the Premier League over Scotland and other offers from Belgium and France.
Sheffield United are paying around £4m to sign the attacker and have arranged a plan of payments with Hacken.
Heckingbottom has been given the cash to meet the fee required and also to fund Traore’s wages, in what is a boost for the Sheffield United boss.
He will now look to quickly push the capture over the line and include the Ivory Coast Under-21s star in his preparations for the new season.
Traore has bagged 12 goals in 14 outings in the Swedish top flight this season so far.
