MIDDLESBROUGH chief executive Neil Bausor has praised the club’s transfer activity over the last three months and expressed his satisfaction at successfully avoiding a frantic deadline day.

Boro signed Adama Traore in the final 24 hours of the transfer window, and allowed Albert Adomah and Adam Reach to leave on permanent deals, but the majority of the club’s transfer business was completed long before Wednesday’s deadline approached.

The Teessiders made 12 signings in the wake of last season’s promotion success, with Aitor Karanka adding proven internationals such as Victor Valdes, Gaston Ramirez and Alvaro Negredo to the squad.

Steve Gibson’s financial backing was once again crucial, and with Boro sitting in sixth position after the opening three games of the campaign, Bausor is looking forward to the next few months with a high degree of optimism.

“We’ve had a great transfer window,” said the Boro executive. “Deadline day can very often be fraught with tension, but the benefit of doing a lot of our business has enabled us to be in a good position.

“It was of massive importance to get the squad in for Aitor. By and large, the squad has had extra time to gel, with a good core group of players.

“When you make the transition to the Premier League, the magnitude is larger, but a transfer is still a transfer. We were clear about what we wanted to achieve, we’ve worked through what we wanted to do, and have achieved what we wanted to achieve.”

Traore’s arrival represented the final piece of the jigsaw, with the 20-year-old effectively replacing Adomah, who moved in the opposite direction to Villa Park.

Adomah’s transfer could eventually be worth £5m, which is the fee Boro are understood to have paid to land Traore, and the youngster has been in their sights for a number of years.

He made his Barcelona debut as a teenager, replacing Neymar, and also boasts experience of the Champions League, and while his Aston Villa career did not go to plan as he suffered an injury-hit time in the Midlands, Boro are confident he can rediscover his best form.

“We’ve watched Adama since he played for Barcelona B,” said Bausor. “We’ve known him for some time, and hopefully he’ll bring something different to the club.”

Traore has spent most of his career on the right-hand side of midfield, although he is also capable of playing in a more central attacking role if required.

He is likely to find himself competing with Cristhian Stuani and Stewart Downing for a place in Boro’s starting line-up, and is hoping his pace and direct running can add another string to his new employers’ attacking bow.

“My personality on the pitch is speed and dribbling,” said Traore. “These, I think, are my better skills. I like to attack, I like to excite. But it is important to work hard for the team, and if I do, I think we could all have a good season.

“I have a lot of experience with Barcelona and Aston Villa. Those were great experiences, this is a new one and I need to work hard.

“My point in the team is a striker. I like to attack defenders and to score if possible, if not then to pass to someone who can and we win the game. This is my job.”