Patrick Bamford: What next for the Chelsea striker?

Patrick Bamford is having a remarkable season on loan at Championship side Middlesborough from Chelsea, scoring 17 goals throughout the course of the season. However, the question still remains: will Bamford ever make the grade at his parent club?

The 21-year-old signed for Chelsea from Nottingham Forest in January 2012 but has been shipped out on loan to MK Dons twice, Derby and now Middlesborough; leaving Bamford still eagerly awaiting the call from Jose Mourinho telling him he will make his first appearance for Chelsea.

Bamford is heading in the right direction to receive the chance he rightfully deserves and was named the Championship Player of the Year this week, collecting the award ahead of Troy Deeney and Daryl Murphy.

Upon picking up the award, the striker answered a few questions, mostly regarding his future and he claimed he sees himself with Chelsea later on in his career – despite not too many people predicting he will lead the line for the Premier League leaders.

The reality of Bamford’s situation doesn't bode well for the striker. As well as having Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Didier Drogba in the first team; youngsters Dominic Solanke and Isaiah Brown have also been called up to the senior set up after impressing Mourinho whilst playing for the under-21 side.

However, there is a doubt whether the Premier League under-21 league helps first teams as numerous youngsters aren’t used to the physicality of top flight football, with West Brom manager Tony Pulis claiming the under-21 system is wrong and top young players should be playing league football.

Clubs like Chelsea do not have time to nurture young talent while they compete for the Premier League title and the Champions League. The impatient nature of the top sides in the top flight of English football to pick up silverware hinders young talent unless they are one of the best players in the world. When Chelsea have the money to spend £32m on world-class strikers like Costa as well as buying Remy to be a back-up striker on the bench, what chance does a player like Bamford have?

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However, Harry Kane has proved at Tottenham that all you need is one chance and your fortunes can soon change. The Spurs striker had loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester before returning to his parent club and taking the Premier League and International stage by storm.

So what is next for Bamford?

It’s unlikely that the Middlesborough star will be a regular for Chelsea with the money and stiff competition stacking up against the striker. However, he has proved his worth in League One and the Championship so the lower leagues are below the standard of Bamford – leaving ‘lesser’ Premier League clubs as his most likely destination.

If Bamford were to join a club around the level of Aston Villa, West Ham or Newcastle United on loan next season and impress, Chelsea would face the same situation they had with Romelu Lukaku – loan out again for another season, keep him to integrate him into the first team or cash in.

Most signs point to Bamford heading for the exit at Stamford Bridge, however, Chelsea have opened talks over an improved contract following his impressive run of form – further adding to the confusion of where the striker will end up.

There is no doubt that Bamford deserves a chance in the Chelsea first team. Whether he takes his chance and it works out is another thing, but the striker will be hoping to follow in Kane’s footsteps and secure regular first team football at his parent club.