JOSE MOURINHO will shelve all talks over Patrick Bamford’s future until the summer in order to give the Championship Player of the Year every chance of firing Middlesbrough to promotion.

Bamford’s future has been the subject of considerable conjecture in recent days, with Boro expected to do all they can to re-sign the 21-year-old on another season-long loan if they secure a place in the Premier League.

The striker has scored 17 league goals this season, with his fine form being honoured on Sunday night as he was named Championship top dog at the prestigious Football League Awards.

His parent club, Chelsea, have been monitoring his progress closely this season, and with major question marks over Didier Drogba’s ability to last for another campaign, Mourinho could opt to promote Bamford to the Blues’ first-team squad next season.

He is almost certain to take part in a full pre-season with the Stamford Bridge club, but with Middlesbrough’s promotion prospects hanging in the balance as they sit in third position with two games to play, Mourinho is keen to ensure Bamford remains fully focused on the job in hand at the Riverside.

“He has a chance to be promoted with Middlesbrough,” said the Chelsea boss. “That’s why he is there – to develop himself and to help Middlesbrough. This is the only thing that matters.

“We think these last (two) matches and the possibility of an extra two or three in the play-offs are very important for his development.”

Bamford has never hidden his desire to force his way into the first-team picture at Stamford Bridge, and while Tomas Kalas was quick to talk up the possibility of a rapid return to Middlesbrough next season after his own loan expired on Friday, his fellow loanee has always avoided direct questions over a potential second spell on Teesside.

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With a place in Gareth Southgate’s England Under-21 squad for this summer’s European Championships almost certainly on the cards, Bamford’s stock could rise even further by the time pre-season training begins.

Boro will surely have to win promotion to have any chance of re-signing him, as if Chelsea do agree to another loan deal next season, they will be targeting a top-flight club in order to progress the striker’s development.

Whether Bamford would agree to another spell on Teesside remains to be seen, although it was telling that when he was interviewed away from the North-East after receiving his award in London on Sunday night, his main long-term focus was Chelsea rather than Middlesbrough.

“There’s no reason why I wouldn’t want to be at Chelsea,” said the striker. “That’s my dream, to pull on that blue shirt, so hopefully it’ll come true.

“In the Premier League, strikers are about 23 or 24 if they’re playing week in, week out, and at a club like Chelsea, you’ve got the money to go out and buy a world-class striker like Diego Costa.

“There’s also that pressure they need to win trophies, win the league. It’s just one of those things, you have to stick with it, be patient and hopefully the rewards will come.”

Boro beat off competition from a host of Championship clubs to secure Bamford’s signature last summer, and Mourinho was heavily involved in pushing the youngster towards a club managed by his close friend and confidante, Aitor Karanka.

“At the start of the season, I had a discussion with Chelsea and they decided that out of the clubs that were interested, Middlesbrough would be the best fit,” said Bamford. “Not only for me as a player, but it would also make me ready for Chelsea next year or the year after.”

If Bamford has his way, Boro will be lining up alongside Chelsea in the top-flight next season, and while Saturday’s results saw the Teessiders slip back out of the automatic promotion places, there is still time for further changes with two games remaining.

If Watford and Bournemouth win their final two fixtures, it will be irrelevant what Boro do against Fulham and Brighton. But if either of the current top two slip up, the Teessiders have to ensure they are capable of taking advantage.

“You only have to look at the work we put in week in, week out on the training ground,” said Bamford. “We deserve to go up, but I think a lot of teams think the same thing. It’s going to be tight – it’s going to be an exciting finish for sure.”