MIDDLESBROUGH will look to send teenage star Harry Chapman on another long-term loan next season – with Barnsley keen to re-sign the forward following their promotion to the Championship.

Chapman was an unused substitute as Barnsley beat Millwall in Sunday’s League One play-off final at Wembley, but the 18-year-old has made a significant contribution since moving to Oakwell on loan at the end of February.

He made 14 senior appearances in the final three months of the season, gaining valuable first-team experience to go alongside his rave reviews from Middlesbrough’s development side.

Boro’s coaching staff rate the Hartlepool-born youngster extremely highly, and Aitor Karanka publicly raved about his qualities after he scored a wonder goal against Torino in the UEFA Youth League.

However, with the Teessiders having secured promotion to the Premier League, Karanka is understandably reluctant to expose Chapman to the pressures of top-flight football at such an early stage of his development.

Instead, the Spaniard would rather send him out on another loan deal, with Barnsley set to be at the front of the queue for his services.

Paul Heckingbottom’s current interim role as Barnsley manager will be converted into a permanent contract within the next couple of days, and one of the former Darlington defender’s first tasks will be to firm up the future of his extensive loan contingent.

He will hold talks with Newcastle officials about striker Ivan Toney, but regards another deal for Chapman as one of his key priorities as he prepares for life in the second tier.

He is unlikely to be the only Championship boss inquiring about Chapman’s services, but the forward has clearly enjoyed his time in South Yorkshire and is likely to be receptive to the offer of a second spell.

In the wake of Sunday’s Wembley victory, Chapman tweeted: “Would like to thank Barnsley for everything, made friends for life, Barnsley will always be in my heart, good luck next season.”

Karanka will have to decide what to do with a number of the players who left the Riverside on loan last season, with Connor Ripley, Alex Baptiste, Mustapha Carayol, Bryn Morris, Adam Reach and Bradley Fewster all facing an uncertain future.

Meanwhile, Boro officials continue to hold talks with defender Bernardo Espinosa about a possible free transfer to Teesside.

Espinosa, who will leave Spanish side Sporting Gijon when his contract expires next month, is also talking to Everton, Watford and Bournemouth.

However, sources in Spain claim the 23-year-old centre-half is an admirer of Karanka and would like the opportunity to work with the Spaniard next season.