The Sun (via Gazette Live) is reporting that Middlesbrough have told the club that Patrick Bamford would cost £16m to sign this summer.
However, the Northern Echo believes no official talks have been held about signing the 24-year-old.
Fans on Twitter were keen to have their say on our reported interest in the striker. None are particularly keen on Bamford if the reported price tag is correct:
Are you having a laugh 16m good luck with that overpriced at 8m. Would say 4m max what are you lot on up there.
— Pablo Pesto Rides Again (@PabloPesto) 3 July 2018
If Boro want rid they'll sell to anyone. No way we're getting Bamford. 16m is them saying you can't have him, unless you're mad. Grabban has scored 20 once and is 30 now. I've slightly come round to the idea of signing him. But I'm still not keen. #nffc
— steve (@trickynffc) 2 July 2018
Yesssss never wanted him 16 million for a striker that scored 11 goals
— jamesNffc (@jshanghai2002) 2 July 2018
For 16m I'm glad Bamford isn't coming #nffc
— Slipknottingham (@jjc271080) 2 July 2018
Bamford or Grabban? Grabban for me #nffc
— Woody (@Mister_Forest) 2 July 2018
Bamford for me dude. Not sure about that valuation though ????. Jack Marriott would be decent as well ????
— Lee.Hazeldine (@lhforest) 3 July 2018
Grabban 5m and Oliveira for under 4m
— ???????? Ben ???????? (@ben82mbga) 2 July 2018
I think Bamford is a backup plan anyway as Grabban is supposed to be AK's first choice, think we should move onto another backup plan if that is the case, not sure any business will be done between #boro & #nffc anytime soon after we had your pants down over Britt
— Red Dog Macca (@nottmforestblog) 2 July 2018
Verdict:
The asking price is likely there to put off potentially interested clubs, and it’s probably done the job, to be honest with you. The club’s ambition in this transfer window has been admirable, and credit to the recruitment team, but I can’t see us going for this one.
£16m for a 24-year-old or £5m for a 30-year-old? If those are the two options, I would have to go for Grabban as I don’t think we will be shelling out that much on the Boro frontman.
