Middlesbrough offload academy starlet Arnel Jakupovic

Middlesbrough have confirmed the sale of academy striker Arnel Jakupovic to Empoli.

The Premier League side, who currently sit 16th in the English top-flight table after losing 3-1 against West Ham United in their last league outing, have agreed to letting the young forward join the Serie A outfit on a permanent deal, putting pen to paper on a contract until 2021.

The 18-year-old, who is an Austria Under-21 international, has scored 13 goals in 23 appearances for Boro’s Under-23 side since arriving at the club in the summer of 2015 from FK Austria Wien.

Jakupovic, who follows winger Carlos de Pena out of the Riverside exit door after his move to Real Oviedo, has been largely left frustrated this term due to injury problems – suffering problems to his hip and hamstring respectively.

Manager Aitor Karanka has so far brought in three players this January transfer window – Rudy Gestede (Aston Villa), Mikael Soisalo (Ilves Tampere) and Patrick Bamford (Chelsea).