AITOR KARANKA is out to help Adama Traore fulfil his fantastic potential after making the former Barcelona youngster his final signing of the summer transfer window.

Deadline day was busier in the departure lounge, with only a single signing arriving at Rockliffe Park, but Karanka is more than satisfied with his work after making his 12th signing since securing promotion back to the Premier League.

As Boro agreed to offload Albert Adomah to Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £3m, which could rise to £5m depending on add-ons, Traore moved in the opposite direction.

Traore has signed a four-year contract after Boro agreed to pay £5m for the player who moved from Barcelona in a £7m just 12 months ago.

The challenge facing Karanka is to try to get the best out of a player who made his debut for Barcelona aged 17 when he replaced Neymar as a substitute. He also played in the Champions League and the Spanish giants did have a buy-back clause in his Villa terms.

Karanka said: “He is another important player and I am expecting a lot from him. I’ve known him since he was a kid. He went into the national team just after I left, but I know all about him and what he can do.

“His level is higher than he showed last season, but in the right environment I’m hoping that he will show what he is capable of.”

Traore has incredible pace and has a trick or two in his locker but needs to find greater consistency.

He will get plenty of chances to shine this season, particularly following the departures of Reach and Adomah.

The latter has penned a five-year deal at Villa Park after Roberto di Matteo persuaded him to drop back down to the Championship having initially suggested he would be unwilling to.

The 28-year-old moved to Boro in 2013 from Bristol City in a £1m deal and became something of a fans favourite. His time at Boro always seemed like it might come to an end sooner rather than later, though, after his spat with Karanka 12 months ago.

Reach, 23-year-old from Chester-le-Street, emerged from the club’s academy system, spent last season on loan at Preston and had a list of Championship clubs queuing up to sign him this summer.

But Wednesday – who were also interested in Jordan Rhodes - put up the £5m fee for the left-sided player and he has moved to Hillsborough.

Boro offloaded two defenders to reduce the size of the squad. Alex Baptiste has gone to Preston on a season- long loan, while teenage centre-back Dael Fry has moved to Rotherham on loan after being handed a new five-year deal at the Riverside.

Karanka was unable to move any of his goalkeepers, however, so that means he will head into the next four months with four senior shot-stoppers.

There was some interest in Tomas Mejias from Spain but it arrived too late, so he will be still pushing for a place along with Dimi Konstantopoulos following the arrivals of Victor Valdes and Brad Guzan this summer.

Boro also kept hold of former Blackburn striker Rhodes. He has been on the periphery of things so far in the Premier League and has been linked with Norwich City, Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday.

It remains to be seen what sort of role he now has between now and the January transfer window with Alvaro Negredo and David Nugent ahead of him in the pecking order.