HITC Sports understands it could lead to a permanent deal for the Chelsea forward, who is currently on loan at Burnley.
Middlesbrough are set to seal a deal to bring Patrick Bamford back to the club on a permanent basis, HITC Sport understands.
Boro’s hiearchy have held talks with his parent club Chelsea about the 23-year-old, who is currently on-loan at Burnley.
Chelsea have been left annoyed at Bamford’s lack of playing time at Turf Moor this season, which has seen him feature just six times as a substitute and they are now planning to invoke a recall clause in the deal to bring him back to Stamford Bridge.
Patrick Bamford celebrates after scoring for Middlesbrough
But Bamford looks unlikely to be returning to Chelsea, as HITC Sport understands that Boro are ready to bring him back to The Riverside with the two clubs understood to be close to agreeing a deal worth around £4million.
Chelsea could allow him to move to Boro initially on loan, but they have indicated they would prefer him to move on a permanent deal.
Middlesbrough’s Patrick Bamford and Nottingham Forest’s Michael Mancienne
Boro boss Aitor Karanka is a huge fan of Bamford, having had him on-loan for the 2015-16 season which saw him claim 19 goals for the club before they lost in the play-off final to Norwich City.
After being named Championship Player of the Year for his performances with Boro, he has since struggled to recapture that form in loan spells with Crystal Palace and Norwich City.
Boro have already signed Rudy Gestede to bolster their attacking options this season, but with Jordan Rhodes and David Nugent set to move on – there will be room for Bamford to come in although they have been linked with other forwards including Stoke’s Bojan.
Karanka himself has confirmed that he would like to bring in a player who could play out wide, which Bamford did during his first spell with the club.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
He also confirmed that players would be allowed to leave, with Rhodes, Nugent and defender Daniel Ayala amongst those most likely to exit.
“If the right offers arrive and the players want to leave, I have said always, I am here to help everyone who wants to leave,” Karanka told the Northern Echo, in his weekly press conference ahead of their FA Cup clash with Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.
“That is the market. To buy players we need to sell them if one player wants to leave then I will help them.
“I hope for more players, at the minute we have a few injuries and I would like a little more. We need to improve the attacking positions, and maybe on the wings.”
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