NEWCASTLE’S impending appointment of Steve McClaren is set to scupper the club’s hopes of signing Chelsea starlet Patrick Bamford.

McClaren is expected to be formally confirmed as Newcastle’s new head coach at the start of next week after a series of discussions with sporting director Lee Charnley resulted in a verbal agreement over the role.

The former Middlesbrough and England boss has received staunch support from chief scout Graham Carr, whose strong endorsement of his qualities persuaded Charnley and Mike Ashley to first approach McClaren to take over from Alan Pardew in January.

Once McClaren is confirmed in his post, the remaining members of Newcastle’s recruitment team will seek his input into transfer discussions before pressing ahead with their plans to remodel the Magpies squad this summer.

A new attacking line-up is regarded as a priority, with Bamford having been identified as a leading target if, as expected, Chelsea opt to send him on loan to a Premier League club.

The England Under-21 international, who has been forced to pull out of this summer’s European Championships in the Czech Republic because of injury, scored 17 Championship goals for Middlesbrough last term, but is unlikely to return to the Riverside.

Newcastle had hoped to lure him to Tyneside with a view to a permanent transfer in 12 months time, but McClaren’s appointment would make their task considerably more difficult as Bamford became disillusioned with the 54-year-old when the pair worked together at Derby County.

Bamford spent the second half of the 2013-14 season playing under McClaren at the Ipro Stadium, and while he scored eight goals during his time with the Rams, he was frustrated at regularly appearing in a wide midfield position rather than as a central striker.

Despite urging McClaren to play him up front, his pleas fell on deaf ears, and after he scored the winner in Boro’s 1-0 victory at the Ipro Stadium last season, it was telling that he pointedly said, “That’s what happens when you play me in the right position”.

McClaren tried to re-sign Bamford ahead of the start of last season, but the memories of his previous spell with the then Rams boss resulted in him turning down the offer in order to join Middlesbrough instead.

To a degree, Bamford’s next loan move will be dictated by Jose Mourinho, but with a number of Premier League clubs expected to be vying for his services, McClaren’s presence in the St James’ Park dug out could push him elsewhere.

Newcastle’s recruitment team had also been considering a move for Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, but the Serbia international will now not be leaving his current Belgian employers this summer.

Mitrovic scored 27 goals in 50 matches in all competitions last season, and the Anderlecht hierarchy have opted to retain the 20-year-old, who had also been linked with a possible move to Arsenal.

“At 20, Mitrovic has scored 20 league goals this season,” said Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck. “He scored against Arsenal, Dortmund and has also played for Serbia.

“This is a striker who you know can really improve a side. Therefore, we have decided against selling him. Mitro is aware, and he wants to stay.”

Newcastle have also registered an interest in long-standing target Andre-Pierre Gignac, who has turned down an offer to join Russian side Dynamo Moscow.

However, Lyon are also looking to sign the 29-year-old, who is a free agent after failing to agree a new contract with Marseille.