AITOR KARANKA’S tinkering in this month’s transfer window is heading to a far greater level than anyone at Middlesbrough envisaged after another player took a step closer to leaving.

While David Nugent is the only man to have left on a permanent basis at this stage, it has become clear that there is plenty of potential for more departures before the end of January.

Emilio Nsue, a key player in last season’s promotion winning campaign, is on his way to Birmingham City on a full-time basis after he was identified by new Blues boss Gianfranco Zola as a versatile player he wanted.

It has also surprisingly emerged that Chelsea are showing an interest in Middlesbrough’s lightning-quick winger Adama Traore, even though he is only eight starts into his career at the Riverside following a £5m switch from Aston Villa in the summer.

Chelsea know that Traore has already played for two clubs this season, so would not be able to figure for Antonio Conte’s side until next season.

However, it is being claimed Chelsea would be willing to loan Traore back to Middlesbrough until the end of the campaign. The Teessiders would be looking for a sizable mark-up on the forward.

It is merely the latest transfer development to have emerged from the club’s Rockliffe Park training base, where Karanka is looking to juggle things around to try to make Boro more potent in front of goal.

All of the changes he is looking to make centre on the attacking third of the field, where Chelsea’s Patrick Bamford and Stoke City’s Bojan Krkic are two of his main targets. Two more, Hull’s Robert Snodgrass and Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu, are more complicated deals to secure.

There is still a chance that Bamford will be completed before Saturday’s visit of West Ham United, with a fee of £6m rising to £10m understood to have been agreed with Chelsea. Bojan, on the other hand, is training with Stoke, who are holding out for £12m for the unsettled former Barcelona man.

Leicester City are keen on Gaston Ramirez, while Stewart Downing is refusing to head out on loan to Crystal Palace which is what Middlesbrough would prefer. Striker Jordan Rhodes is still available if the right deal can be agreed with Sheffield Wednesday, or another suitor.

Middlesbrough, who have only signed Rudy Gestede from Aston Villa so far this month, are more certain that Nsue will be on his way in the next 48 hours.

The Equitorial Guinea international has only made five starts this season and has not figured since the defeat at Everton in September.

Nsue, 27, has been given permission to head to St Andrew’s and he could be at St James’ Park on Wednesday night to watch the FA Cup third rounrd replay with Newcastle at St James’ Park.

His performances down the right-hand side for Middlesbrough impressed supporters last season and Zola will be looking for a return to that form as he looks to end Birmingham’s run of five games without a win.