Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has revealed that the club couldn't make a decision regarding the future of Jelle Vossen due to the uncertainty over their division next season.

Vossen has impressed during a season-long loan deal at the Riverside Stadium, but Middlesbrough failed to invoke a clause that would give them first option on the 26-year-old.

However, with the striker helping the club maintain a promotion push throughout the season, Karanka has left the door open for talks to take place in the summer.

The 41-year-old told BBC Tees: "The case is that we can't think about next season when we don't know where we are.

"We are training every day thinking about the following game so I think it's fair and honest to wait until the end of the season, then we can speak about it."

Vossen, who is on loan from Genk, has scored seven times in 34 appearances this season.