Middlesbrough reward Marcus Tavernier with new contract to ward off January interest from Arsenal

• e-mail

Middlesbrough have secured the future of Arsenal target Marcus Tavernier by handing him a new three-and-a-half-year deal.

The 18-year-old has broken into the first-team this season and has attracted interest from the Gunners, whose scouts have checked on the talented winger.

But Boro have rewarded his emergence with a new contract, which will run until the summer of 2021.

Middlesbrough have rewarded 18-year-old Marcus Tavernier with a new contract

The youngster put pen to paper on Friday morning after being offered the new deal recently. 

'I'm absolutely delighted,' he told the club's official website.

'It's been an unbelievable few months, but my main focus is to keep working hard.

'I'd like to thank the manager for giving me the opportunity and it's been a great experience, but I'm just focused on my football, whether that's playing with the Under-23s or being involved with the first team.' 

The talented winger put pen to paper on his new three-and-a-half-year deal on Friday

The youngster also took to Twitter to reveal his delight at signing a new deal.

He tweeted: 'Delighted to have signed a new deal with the club. Looking forward to the future. #UTB'

Tavernier, an England Under-19 international, scored his only goal in the 1-0 win over Sunderland earlier this season. 

Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce's Everton have been linked with the 18-year-old