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Aitor Karanka has confirmed that winger Emmanuel Ledesma will move to Championship strugglers Brighton on loan.

The Boro boss confirmed after his side's 1-1 draw at Birmingham that the Argentine will move to the Amex Stadium, meaning he has probably played his last game for the club.

Last month Karanka said that Ledesma was to stay on Teesside and see out his contract , which expires this summer.

But after seeing Mustapha Carayol come through 90 minutes of an Under-21 match yesterday , it seems Karanka has had a change of heart - and has given Ledesma his blessing to leave Teesside.

When asked if Ledesma was set to move to Brighton, Karanka said:" Yes. I have enough players in that position.

"For Manu to be here when he finishes his contract in the summer would not be fair as he needs to play. I hope he plays well for Brighton because he deserves all the best."

The flanker enjoyed a loan spell at Rotherham earlier this season, but a permanent switch failed to materialise.

Seb Hines is also set to sign for MLS club Orlando City, confirmed Karanka, while Under-21s star David Atkinson has been given permission to go on trial with Walsall.

Meanwhile Karanka admitted he was pleased with his side's second half display against Birmingham, after 10-man Boro earned a battling point at St Andrew's.

Boro were trailing 1-0 at the break after Paul Caddis' penalty, with Dimi Konstantopoulos sent off for bringing down Clayton Donaldson.

But 10-man Boro rallied and levelled through Patrick Bamford - a result that sees them go one point clear at the Championship summit.

"We are top of the table and we now have to defend our position there," Karanka said.

“I have told the players I am proud of them and we deserve to be there but we have achieved nothing yet.

"We were bad in the first half but we were much better in the second half.

“I was far away from the penalty and I would prefer not to talk about the referee.”