'Bamford Bridge' - AVB eyes £1m defender deal

Chelsea have made a £1million offer for Nottingham Forest teenager Patrick Bamford reports the Daily Mail.

The 18-year-old forward has played just 12 minutes of first-team football, making two appearances from the Forest bench this season, but after netting nine goals in the club's last two academy matches, Bamford's potential is there for all to see.

The striker netted four goals in last week's 5-1 FA Youth Cup victory over Southampton at St Mary's, reportedly alerting the attention of a number of Barclays Premier League suitors.

Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas has identified the talented teenager as a star of the future at Stamford Bridge, and has made an initial offer which includes add-ons based on future Chelsea appearances.

Forest boss Steve Cotterill will be keen to keep Bamford at the City Ground, and will stress that his development would be better served by gaining further experience in the Npower Championship, in and around the first-team picture.