ADAMA TRAORE was a player who caught Garry Monk’s eyes years ago, and the Middlesbrough manager wants to help him hit the very top after keeping him at the Riverside Stadium.

The Spanish forward was the subject of interest from France in the days building up to last week’s transfer deadline, with Lille and Lyon’s decision makers known to have been in touch with their Boro counterparts.

But Middlesbrough were not prepared to do business for anything lower than their valuation, with reports across the English Channel suggesting there was a £15m price-tag on his head.

The Teessiders knocked back offers for Traore and decided he would not be sold and Monk is focused on trying to get the best out of a talent clearly capable of tormenting teams in the Championship and above.

“With Adama … you want to keep as many players as you feel will be important players who will help you and the team to achieve what you want to achieve,” said Monk.

“Adama has been fantastic since day one when we came in. He is a fantastic lad. The group like him a lot. There has been speculation over the whole squad, it’s quite unique because I think we have faced this with almost every single player in the squad since I came in.

“They have handled it exceptionally well. Attitude towards work has been spot on since we outlined what we expect.

“The players are not stupid either, every player will have his price in this day and age, the club have the right to dictate what happens with their assets. Adama has been fantastic. In this environment he has not been a problem at all.”

During Monk’s time in charge at Swansea (2014-15) he knew of Traore’s availability after he had made his Barcelona debut aged 17. Just months before Monk left the Liberty Stadium, the winger had moved to Aston Villa in a £7m deal.

Thirteen months ago he moved on again, this time to Middlesbrough and he has built a reputation as an explosive young player with the world at his feet – provided the 21-year-old can conjure up an end product to his exciting play and make better decisions.

Monk said: “I see Adama years ago when he was at Barcelona, I already knew about his talent when I arrived here. My time at Swansea, there were a lot of people who came up, I knew how good he could be, his potential. You get that a lot.

“When you are working with them, you get up close and see them up close and see their personality. He is switched on. He has huge potential. I can see potential in all of them.

“We have had a lot of meetings with the players on an individual basis and collectively. It’s part of the process. It’s very early days for us here. The players have had ownership of those meetings too, in terms of the environment they are in to try to fulfil their potential.

“That process has started but it takes time. There are capabilities in this squad and it will be down to them at the end of the day what they go on to achieve.”

But Monk was more than happy to have kept Traore for the promotion push and he is ready to decide whether to recall him to the squad for the trip to Bolton after leaving him out of the goalless draw with Preston for “personal reasons”.

The Boro boss said: “From our point of view I would say staying here is better for his development. From the player’s point of view all I can speak about is how he has been on a daily basis and he has been fantastic. He can be whatever he wants to be.”

Traore was not the only player to have been the subject of interest before the window closed last week. Grant Leadbitter was another.

Leadbitter only has 12 months remaining on his contract at the Riverside but Middlesbrough fought off attention from Sheffield Wednesday, Derby and Sunderland because he is regarded highly.

Monk said: “The players are here, so obviously I rate him. The players here are the ones I want to be here. I am looking forward to working with them every day which I have been.

“Grant is definitely one of those players, he is an important character for this football club. It’s imperative you keep characters like that.”