Patrick Bamford has so impressed his current employers Middlesbrough that they are seeking to extend his loan from parent club Chelsea FC.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has a close relationship with Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho and will hope to use that relationship to extend Bamford’s stay at the Riverside. The Boro boss spoke to Sky Sports about how the young forward has acclimated to playing for the Championship side.
"I’m very pleased with Patrick. He took time to settle in because he arrived in the first international break, and it’s always difficult to arrive at a new place without pre-season…I would really like him to stay all season and he knows that, but it’s not just me. I like to have players here who want to be here and not because I want them to be here.” – Boro manager Aitor Karanka"
If both Patrick Bamford and the Boro bosses are very happy with his progress and play up at Middlesbrough, I don’t see why Chelsea wouldn’t agree to keep him in for the rest of the season and so an extension in the January window would seem logical. However, we could also see Chelsea keep their options open with the young forward, perhaps a club in the Premier League looking to bolster their attacking power could come calling and offer Bamford playing time at the higher level. In this instance, Chelsea would have a very difficult decision to make.
Either way, it’s very good to see Bamford developing well at Boro. Given his success last year at MK Dons in League One and another successful half season at Derby County in the Championship, it’s good to see he has continued to make a successful transition from one level to the next, and all signs point to the young lad wearing a Chelsea royal blue kit in a couple seasons.
UTC!
Here’s a short interview Patrick Bamford did with the BBC about his time at Middlesbrough: