Chelsea forward, Patrick Bamford, has terminated his loan stay at Crystal Palace.
The 22-year-old will return to Stamford Bridge having made just nine appearances in an unsuccessful spell with Alan Pardew’s side – all of them coming from the bench.
Bamford has struggled to get up the pecking order at Selhurst Park, and made his first appearance since November in Monday’s 0-0 draw at home to Swansea City.
It is a stark contrast to his previous loan, which was at Middlesbrough, with Bamford netting 17 goals during the 2014/15 season – as Boro reached the play-off final, only to be defeated by Norwich City.
During his time at the Riverside, Bamford also won the Championship Player of the Year for his efforts – SillySeason reported last month that the North East club were keen to see him make a return to Teesside.
Boro will undoubtedly be the favourites to land his signature, as they look to go one better than last term, and win promotion to the Premier League.
Prior to going out on his uneventful loan to Palace, Bamford penned a new long-term deal at Chelsea.
After the game with Swansea, he told reporters that he was to depart the club, by saying: “this was my last game.”
