Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka welcomes reported Chelsea interest in Adama Traore

Wing wonder: Traore in action against Chelsea earlier this season
AFP/Getty Images
James Benge20 January 2017

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has welcomed rumours of Chelsea’s interest in his winger Adama Traore.

It was reported earlier this week that Chelsea had made a surprise enquiry as to the availability of former Barcelona and Aston Villa winger Traore though the Blues would be unable to add the 20-year-old to their squad this season.

Traore impressed in Chelsea’s tight 1-0 win over Boro at the Riverside earlier this season, completing 12 dribbles and posing major questions for Marcos Alonso and Gary Cahill, and also proved himself to be a thorn in Arsenal’s side during a 0-0 draw at the Emirates.

Karanka told a press conference: “If a team like Chelsea are following Adama it’s because his progress has been brilliant in six months and he’s doing well, but he’s young and the main thing he has to do is to keep going as football can change a lot.

The players on Chelsea’s transfer shortlist

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“He’s in a good moment now but with [new signing] Patrick [Bamford] here now, maybe other players arriving, maybe in two or three months he’s not playing and the Chelsea move disappears.”

Having played for Aston Villa in the Championship before joining Middlesbrough in the summer Traore would be ineligible to play for any other club this season under Fifa regulations.

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