ADAMA TRAORE is expected to remain at Middlesbrough beyond this month one way or another, even if the man who signed him thinks the winger is destined for the very top.

Aitor Karanka, the Boro head coach, gambled on taking Traore to the Riverside Stadium in the summer even though he had not even made a start for Aston Villa in their calamitous relegation season from the Premier League.

The 20-year-old, who Karanka knew all about having monitored him during his younger days with Barcelona’s academy, has made eight starts for Middlesbrough and appeared a further six times from the bench in the league.

His lightning speed and ability to turn defence into attack in an instant has made some of the biggest clubs around take notice, with Chelsea interested.

There is even talk that he could be sold to the Blues this month for £10m and be loaned back to Boro because he has already played for two clubs this season.

Regardless of what happens on the transfer front, Karanka feels he has a potential gem on his hands and is determined to help Traore reach the top.

The Middlesbrough boss said: “It’s not a surprise to see him linked with such clubs. I signed him because he has an amazing future. I have known him since he was 15 years old.

“The main thing is to keep him calm. If he can go to Chelsea then maybe he will be on the bench for a few weeks, in the stands.

“If he goes in the same way he is then maybe it is Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal he will end up at because he is a really good player. But he is 21 and he has to improve. He has to learn.”

Traore made an explosive start to his Boro career when he stunned Arsenal at the Emirates with his strong-running and energy. He has not held down a first team shirt as well as he would have liked since then.

Karanka explained why. He said: “We can’t forget that six months ago he didn’t play two games in Premier League. In six months he has gone from not playing to playing, so he can’t go from that to being in the Champions League in six months. He needs to learn.

“He is improving and he will have top teams behind him if he keeps that up. He has the pace, the speed, one v one, he has everything, so he needs to improve everything.

“In the past he used to just play for himself because he was the best. Now he has to play for the team. When he understands, like he is now when he plays with teammates, then he will be better tactically and he will be amazing.”

Traore was not the only Boro man to be singled out. Calum Chambers has impressed him since arriving from Arsenal on a season-long loan.

Chambers has become a regular in the defence and has turned in occasional performances to reflect the £16m paid to Southampton by the Gunners two-and-a-half years ago.

The England Under-21 international and has helped Boro keep seven clean sheets this season; only Chelsea and Tottenham have kept more.

Karanka said: “When you are a good player, like Calum is, and you have quality, the only thing you need is to play. He is playing really well getting experience and playing in a team which is building and is more comfortable for him.

“He can have a really good future because he is a quality player and the games he has had this season are really important, which was the wish for Arsenal when they sent him here.”

Despite the impressive defensive record – no side below the top seven has conceded less – Boro are only four points and two places above the relegation zone. That has put the onus on victory today.

Karanka said: “It is a really important game because if we win we can open the gap. It is a tough league and I am sure we will fight until the end. We were in the Championship and we are playing against the best teams in the world so we always knew it would be difficult but we are improving.”