PATRICK BAMFORD is due to have a medical at Middlesbrough's training ground within the next 24 hours after Chelsea officials agreed a deal for a permanent transfer.

Boro will pay an up-front fee of around £6m to sign Bamford, with further clauses potentially taking the final cost of the transfer to £10m.

Chelsea recalled Bamford from an unsuccessful loan spell at Burnley over the weekend, having been aware of Boro's desire to sign the striker permanently.

Blues boss Antonio Conte does not see the 23-year-old having a future at Stamford Bridge, and rather than sending him back out on loan, the Chelsea hierarchy have opted to sever their ties before he enters the final year of his current deal.

Bamford, who is expected to sign a five-year deal on Teesside, scored 19 goals while on loan with Boro during the 2014-15 season.

The Northern Echo:

His performances helped the Teessiders reach the Championship play-off final, but while Karanka wanted to re-sign him for the following campaign, Bamford elected to join Crystal Palace instead.

He failed to hold down a first-team place at Selhurst Park, and subsequent loan deals at Norwich and Burnley have also seen him regularly consigned to the sidelines.

Aitor Karanka continues to rate him highly though, with Bamford's ability to play as a central striker or in a wide-attacking role making him especially appealing to the Boro head coach.

Karanka has already sanctioned the £2.5m departure of David Nugent this month, and Bamford's arrival will increase the likelihood of Jordan Rhodes leaving Teesside before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Gaston Ramirez's future remains up in the air amid mounting interest from Leicester City, with Karanka keen to sign Bjoan Krkic.

Bojan has told Stoke boss Mark Hughes he wants to leave the Britannia Stadium, but the Potters will demand at least £8m for the former Barcelona trainee.