Adama Traoré is good enough to play for Chelsea and is an “amazing” talent, but Aitor Karanka is adamant that the 20-year-old forward must continue learning at Middlesbrough rather than risk getting lost at a Champions League club.
Traoré left Aston Villa for a £6 million fee in August and has started eight league matches under Karanka. Having represented two clubs this season he cannot play for a third, but Chelsea have considered whether to sign him and loan him back to Middlesbrough.
“It’s not a surprise,” Karanka said. “I signed him because he has an amazing future. I have known him since he was 15. The main thing is to keep him calm. If he [progresses] in the same way he is then maybe it is Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal . . . because he is a really good player but he has to improve.
“He has to learn. He has the pace, the speed, one versus one, he has everything, but 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 that then he will be better tactically and he will be amazing.”