Stay focused: Middlesbrough's Adam Traore urged not to take anything for granted

The Blues are understood to have registered an interest in the 20-year-old Spanish winger, who only joined Boro from Aston Villa in August, after a series of high-octane individual displays in the top flight.

Head coach Aitor Karanka remains relaxed over the situation with no player allowed to represent three different clubs in a single season, although the speculation is that Chelsea would loan him straight back to Boro should they clinch a deal.

However, he has warned the youngster to keep his feet firmly on the ground, with Patrick Bamford having arrived from Stamford Bridge to strengthen his hand.

Karanka said: “If a team like Chelsea is following Adama, it’s because his progression has been brilliant in six months and he’s doing well.

“But he’s young and the main thing he has to do is to keep going in the same way because football changes a lot.

“Maybe he is in a big moment, but with Patrick here now, with other players already, maybe in two or three months, he will not be playing and Chelsea disappears and everybody disappears.”

Karanka has also had to contend with talk that reigning champions Leicester are preparing to test his resolve to hang on to Uruguay international Gaston Ramirez, although he has shown few signs of being prepared to let either man leave.

He said: “Adama can’t go anywhere because he has played with Villa and with us, so he can’t play for another club. And with Gaston, I don’t know anything because the club hasn’t received anything official from any club.”