Traore has allegedly caught the eye of Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, but Karanka has warned the player to remain focused on playing for Boro as he faces tough competition for a starting berth at the Riverside.
Middlesbrough recently signed ex-Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford to bolster their attacking options and the former Real Madrid defender urged Traore to keep working hard to make sure he keeps his place in the team.
"If a team like Chelsea is following Adama, it's because his progression has been brilliant in six months and he's doing well," Karanka said.
"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".