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PATRICK BAMFORD has refused to rule out a return to Chelsea.
The hitman left the Blues for Middlesbrough in an initial £6m deal this week.
And he did so having failed to make a first-team appearance in five years at Stamford Bridge.
Despite being delighted to seal the Riverside Stadium switch, Bamford is already eyeing a potential Chelsea comeback.
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The former England Under-21 international told talkSPORT: “It was a sad day knowing that I was going to leave Chelsea, but it was also probably one of the happiest days of my life as well.
“I was so happy to come back here to Middlesbrough.
“I’ve put Chelsea behind me now, but I really enjoyed working with the staff and the players there. I’ll remember my time there fondly.
“But I’m not closing the door on Chelsea. You never know what will happen in the future, depending on how well I do.”
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Bamford joins Middlesbrough having previously enjoyed a season-long loan spell with the Teessiders.
The striker scored 17 goals in 38 Championship appearances for Aitor Karanka’s side during the 2014/15 campaign.
Paul Merson delivers his prediction for Chelsea vs Hull City
CHELSEA will come away with three points against Hull, no matter what.
That is the view of player-turned-pundit Paul Merson.
The Blues bounced back from defeat at Tottenham to comfortably win 3-0 at champions Leicester on Saturday.
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And Antonio Conte’s side managed the feat without Diego Costa, who is expected to return to the starting XI for the Hull clash.
With Merson seeing a Chelsea victory as a guarantee at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (4.30pm), he insists their title rivals must match them this weekend.
Liverpool and Arsenal are at home to Swansea and Burnley respectively, but Merson believes Tottenham’s showdown with Manchester City will prove the most pivotal in the coming days.
“On paper it’s an easy game for Chelsea,” Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column.
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“Like Liverpool and Arsenal I expect a comfortable afternoon for the Blues and that’s why it puts so much pressure on Man City’s clash with Tottenham.
“City have to win because I expect Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea to get all three points.
“If City don’t win and all the teams around them do, they’ll be cut adrift.
“Whatever happens, it’ll be three points at Stamford Bridge for Antonio Conte’s side.”
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Premier League leaders Chelsea have a seven point lead on both Spurs and Liverpool, with Arsenal a further point behind.
The gap to City, though, is a mammoth 10 points, and defeat for them at White Hart Lane could rule Pep Guardiola’s men out of the running this season.
Ray Parlour states his prediction for Chelsea v Hull
Ray Parlour is backing Chelsea to claim a straightforward win over Hull City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues head into the game looking to continue their recent impressive form and maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
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The west London side have firmly established themselves as the favourites to win the title this season and were 3-0 winners over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium last weekend.
And former Arsenal man Parlour is not expecting to see Chelsea have any problems against Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Speaking to the Alan Brazil Up Front podcast, Parlour predicted: “You’d expect them to get all three points against Hull City.”
The post Paul Merson delivers his prediction for Chelsea vs Hull City; Former Chelsea Striker – ‘I’m not closing the door on Chelsea’ appeared first on Chelsea Season.