BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Patrick Bamford of Middlesbrough is challenged by Harlee Dean of Brentford during the Sky Bet Championship Playoff semi-final first leg match between Brentford and Middlesbrough at Griffin Park on May 8, 2015 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Newcastle United have been linked with Chelsea forward Patrick Bamford who had a formidable season with Middlesbrough and Derby.

Patrick Bamford has played little to no football this season when he started the first half on loan with Crystal Palace, and finishing the season off at Norwich. First team football just wasn’t coming the player’s way, but that may change with Newcastle United on the prowl for forwards.

Chelsea slapped a large fee on the player, and may not be willing to let the forward go. At 22, Bamford has room to improve, and plying his trade with Newcastle United could be just what he needs to get back in form.

Bamford is young, and he can bring a lot to a Newcastle United squad. But that’s precisely why the club shouldn’t be courting him. The club has a host of young players already on the up. Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Adam Armstrong. To bring in another youthful player would add less experience, and only add more work for the team attempting to gain instant promotion.

Ross McCormack at 29 offers more experience and a proven goalscoring record. Something that Bamford doesn’t quite yet have. Experience is especially important for Newcastle United, and adding more of that up front will add to their attacking lineup.

Perhaps the club should be focusing more of their efforts on courting older players with more experience. With Benitez in charge of recruitment now, the club is already moving away from its 26 and under policy, and starting to looking for a good mix of veteran and young players.

Signing Bamford isn’t going to add to a strong dynamic that Benitez is looking for. Despite being prolific in lower tiers, he still doesn’t have the record of a player like Ross McCormack, who despite being more on the expensive side would add more of an immediate impact.

Signing Bamford could be the same problem that Newcastle United had with Aleksandar Mitrovic when he first joined the club. Bamford could struggle. And with three strikers already on the books, does the club really want another young forward be hit or miss on their first season? He may not even make the first team.

For the record, I do not believe that Newcastle United will end up signing Patrick Bamford. Rather, I believe that if a young striker is to come to the first team, it’d be Ivan Toney coming up from the reserves. You didn’t forget about him did you?

The club needs a proven striker, not one who adds more youth instead of experience. Bamford has potential, but I don’t think he’s what the club is in the market for.