Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has admitted that Patrick Bamford is unlikely to return to the club next season.

The 21-year-old striker scored 19 goals while on loan at the Riverside Stadium from Chelsea last term.

Karanka believes that Bamford will be playing in the Premier League when the new campaign gets underway.

"I don't think Patrick's coming because he showed everybody last season that he can play in the Premier League and I am sure he has offers to play in the Premier League," he is quoted as saying by The Gazette. "He has offers to play in other countries because he is a very good player."

Middlesbrough start the new Championship season with a trip to Preston North End on August 9.