Chelsea have offered Patrick Bamford a five-year contract in an attempt to ensure that he stays at Stamford Bridge. The England Under-21 striker has one year remaining on his existing deal and has attracted interest from Everton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace during his successful loan spell with Middlesbrough.

Bamford has scored 19 goals for the Teesside club in all competitions this season and was named Sky Bet Championship player of the year at the Football League Awards last month. Aitor Karanka, the Middlesbrough head coach, is hoping that Bamford will have recovered from an ankle-tendon injury to play in tomorrow’s play-offs semi-final, second leg against Brentford at the Riverside Stadium. Middlesbrough are 2-1 up after last week’s first leg at Griffin Park, where Bamford