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Would Middlesbrough's Adama Traore thrive at Chelsea?

Adama Traore
Image: Adama Traore's career has taken him from Barcelona to Middlesbrough via Aston Villa

Chelsea have approached Middlesbrough over the availability of winger Adama Traore, according to Sky sources - but does the player have what it takes to succeed at Stamford Bridge?

Traore's appearances for both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough this season will complicate a January move to London - the 20-year-old cannot play for another club this campaign - but Chelsea may look to firm up their reported interest in the summer.

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Traore yet again completed more dribbles than any other player in gameweek 22. The Spaniard beat an opponent 11 times against West Ham on Saturday, his second highest total this season and the third overall.

Of the 16 occasions that a Premier League player has completed eight dribbles or more in 2016/17, the youngster has been responsible for six.

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Charlie Nicholas raves about Adama Traore's performance in Middlesbrough's 3-1 defeat to West Ham

His blistering pace and power was abundantly evident in his fleeting appearances for Aston Villa last season, no less so than on his Premier League debut. Coming on as a second-half substitute at Crystal Palace, Traore forced the own goal that drew Villa level and certainly left an impression on Alan Pardew, who commented after the game that he was "the quickest thing I've ever seen".

The travelling fans salivated at the prospect of what the winger could produce but a combination of injuries and administration clauses to do with his signing from Barcelona restricted the teenager to just 10 league appearances and not a single start.

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Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka, aware of Traore's talents from his time in Spain, took up the opportunity to sign the winger in the summer. However, despite his dribbling prowess, the former Barcelona youngster has often found himself out of the team, with his end product proving to be a recurring frustration.

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Traore is second in the Premier League for total dribbles (84), with Eden Hazard just six ahead of the Boro man despite playing more than twice the number of minutes. But the lack of a single goal or assist this season is telling.

After making his first start in October and playing 858 minutes, Traore averages a key pass just once every 107 minutes and has hit the target with only two of his six shots. A meagre 69.5 per cent passing accuracy reflects his weakness when it comes to retaining possession.

Karanka has built Boro's survival quest on a solid defensive base, but Traore has struggled to contribute in this department. He has made just eight tackles and five interceptions all season. Could tactical expert Conte develop that aspect of Traore's game?

Certainly Victor Moses would have been an unlikely contender for a wing-back role last summer, but under the Italian's guidance the wide player has found a balance between attack and defence and is on course for the most productive season of his career.

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Watch highlights of Middlesbrough 1-3 West Ham

Whether Traore has the potential to fulfil a similar role will be a decision for Conte to make. There is, after all, not a player in the league that can match Traore's directness and speed with the ball at his feet. And he is able to complement his raw pace with exceptional upper body strength.

The attributes are there and there's plenty of time for one of the Premier League's most exciting talents to develop. And that could make Traore an attractive proposition for the title chasers…

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