Southampton have been linked with a loan move for Championship Player of the Year Patrick Bamford.
The 21-year-old striker is currently on loan at Middlesbrough, his fourth loan spell away from parent club Chelsea.
Southampton are definitely in need of another striker before the start of next season, in order to provide more competition for Graziano Pelle, who recently went 14 games without scoring.
Bamford, a product of the Nottingham Forest academy, joined Chelsea in 2012 for a fee of £1.5million, but hasn’t played a competitive game for the side. Instead, Bamford has enjoyed two loan spells at Milton Keynes Dons in League One, before spending 18 months in the Championship with Derby and current club Middlesbrough.
In doing so, Bamford has scored 48 goals, including 19 in his current loan spell. The forward’s performances have seen Middlesbrough fighting for automatic promotion from the Championship, and a move to the Premier League could be the next move up for the England youth international.
Bamford had expressed his desire to stay at his parent club next season, but only if he was given an opportunity to play. However, with strikers like Diego Costa and Loic Remy amongst the Chelsea ranks, it looks unlikely that the youngster is ready to lead the line of the Champions-elect.
It remains unclear as to whether another loan move would suit Bamford, but his future certainly seems to away from the London club for now. The youngster could thrive is from a move to the South Coast, as his pace would suit Ronald Koeman’s style of play.
It remains yet to be seen as to whether the young talent would play ahead of Saido Mane or Shane Long, but it would certainly be a move welcomed by the south coast outfit.
