REPORTS suggest that Burnley have won the battle to sign long-term Wanderers target Lukas Jutkiewicz from Middlesbrough.

The 25-year-old had a medical at Turf Moor this morning but did not fly out with the rest of the Clarets squad to Austria for their pre-season training camp.

A fee – understood to be £1.5million – was agreed last week but talks over personal terms were delayed while Jutkiewicz contemplated his future.

That delay looked to have opened a window for Wanderers to finally mount their bid. But while fans waited anxiously for news on the man they took to their hearts during a successful loan spell last season, Burnley went about the business of completing the transfer.

Where Dougie Freedman goes next is the question on everyone’s lips.

The Whites boss has just two senior strikers, Jermaine Beckford and Craig Davies, with three weeks remaining before the Championship season kicks-off against Watford.

Freedman hoped that the club would find the cash to bid for target man Jutkiewicz up to the bitter end but must now concentrate on finding another striker as quickly as possible.

Wolves, Derby and Blackburn Rovers all registered an interest in the Boro front man in the last few months.