article: As Patrick Bamford fired home his 19th Middlesbrough goal of the season on Tuesday night, there was one question on everybody’s lips: can he make the grade at Chelsea next season? The 21-year-old striker has been prolific in his loan spells at Boro, Derby and MK Dons, so much so that Sportsmail understands his parent club are opening talks with him over a new deal. Needless to say it would see his wages rise from his current £7,500-a-week deal. He will also be given the chance to impress Jose Mourinho on Chelsea’s summer tour although at the end of it he is expected to go out on loan again. This time, though, Bamford will be sent to a Premier League club, preferably Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough should they join the Blues in the top flight. Scroll down for video . Patrcik Bamford (centre) scored in Middlesbrough's  their 2-1 Championship win over Wolves on Tuesday . Bamford reels away in celebration after netting his 19th goal of the season in all competitions for Boro . The 21-year-old's (centre) sparkling form has led his parent club Chelsea to open talks over a new deal . The worry is that it is the same tactic the club employed with Romelu Lukaku, who was eventually sold to Everton. But Bamford is a confident young man and will believe he can emulate Tottenham’s Harry Kane and force Chelsea’s hand. Bamford is currently one of 26 players out on loan from Stamford Bridge - five of which are rival frontmen - while academy forwards Dominic Solanke and Isaiah Brown have already won elevation to the senior set-up. Then there are Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Didier Drogba already competing for that sole striking role. The chances of Bamford making his mark next season, you feel, are slim. But then weren’t the chances of Kane scoring 29 goals for Spurs in his breakthrough season and then netting on his full England debut also outlandish? Bamford has already impressed Mourinho with his attitude. The striker was sat with his dad and Chelsea’s technical director two years ago when the manager walked in and boldly demanded of the youngster, ‘What do you want?’ He was encouraged by the reply. ‘To play for Chelsea,’ returned the well-mannered but equally brazen rookie. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (right) has been impressed with Bamford's attitude as well as his development . Romelu Lukaku (pictured in 2011) was sold to Everton in the summer after failing to make the grade . Chelsea youth product Dominic Solanke (centre) has won elevation to the first-team squad this season . Tottenham striker Harry Kane (left) has scored 29 goals in his breakthrough season for the club . Bamford has always achieved his goals in life - be it straight A grades at Nottingham High School, teaching himself Spanish and to play guitar or, indeed, scoring goals as a footballer. He left Mourinho in no doubt as to his ultimate ambition. Last summer, when Mourinho convinced Bamford that Middlesbrough was the best place for him, the manager dispensed with his cool exterior and hugged his player. ‘He was very emotional,’ recalls the 21-year-old. And there is the ace which Bamford holds - Mourinho likes him. In June he will line up alongside Spurs’ Kane for England at the Under 21 European Championships. Kane is just six weeks older and has plotted a similar path through the Football League. On Tuesday night he became Boro’s first player since 1990 to score 17 league goals in one season. The play-offs are Boro’s most likely destination. But for Bamford - favourite to land the Football League’s Young Player of the Year prize - the chance of a showcase match at Wembley is no bad thing. Asked to detail the aspects of his game which have improved this season, Bamford said: ‘I now know how to use my strength in that position (lone striker), and I can run a lot more.’ If Mourinho was listening it would have been music to his ears. For Bamford’s ability - the raw talent which persuaded Chelsea to prise him from Nottingham Forest as an 18-year-old after only 12 minutes of first-team football - has never been in question. That much was in evidence during the midweek win over Wolves. His goal was a ruthless combination of technique and instinct. At times he reminds you of a young Teddy Sheringham, but with more pace. But more eye-catching was the selfless pursuit of a hopeful punt forward when, after out-muscling and out-pacing his minders, he squared for a team-mate to score. There is, then, graft as well as craft. Silk allied to steel. But it is Bamford’s personality which is most endearing. Bamford scored in Middlesbrough's surprise FA Cup fourth round win at Manchester City on January 24 . The striker's style of play has been compared to ex-England and Tottenham forward Teddy Sheringham (left) After training every day he goes home and practises guitar for ‘one hour only’ because he doesn’t want to ‘p*** off the neighbours’. He already plays piano, violin and saxophone and is conversational in German as well as French. There was an offer from Harvard University to study economics, and he could even have followed his two sisters down a medicine and science route. He shunned all of that, however, for a career in football. Bamford knows what he wants, and so does Mourinho. He feels he is ready to make the grade at Chelsea. To do that, like Kane, he first needs the chance. Bamford enjoyed two loan spells at MK Dons before spending the second half of last season at Derby .
highlights: Middlesbrough beat Wolves 2-1 in the Championship on Tuesday night .
  Patrick Bamford scored his 19th goal of the season for Boro in the win .
  Bamford is  one of 26 players out on loan from Chelsea this season .
  21-year-old has opened contract talks with the Blues over a new deal .
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