Unsurprisingly, Derby County wouldn't mind having Patrick Bamford next season as well

Despite the absolutely flabbergasting decision to not bring on Patrick Bamford when QPR went down to 10-men in the Championship promotion playoffs final - Steve McClaren waited until there were only a couple minutes left, though Bamford still managed to fit in a spectacular overhead kick try - Derby County would like to have him back for next season as well.

"The next stage is keeping the players we have under contract together and I would also like to sort out the likes of Wisdom, Thorne and Bamford," said McClaren.  Maybe we have a chance of getting them back because I think they've enjoyed their time here.  We have got the nucleus of a great squad and the loan signings have added to it."

"Thorne and Wisdom have done a great job, Bamford too. Zak Whitbread has been great behind the scenes, Lee Naylor also.  I have said to (chief executive) Sam Rush already ‘make sure we keep this lot' because we will go places."

-Steve McClaren; source: Derby Telegraph

And who can blame him, really.  Bamford scored six times in 14 starts (8 in 21 appearances overall), and that's despite usually playing wide(r) right, with Chris Martin entrenched in the center forward role.  On a per-minute basis, Bamford was Derby's most proficient player (Bamford - 156 min/goal; Martin - 188 min/goal; Russell - 250 min/goal).

Standing in Derby's way is the possibility of Mourinho actually keeping Bamford around for next season, as well as our general reluctance to repeat loans (though Bamford did get two separate yet successive six-month loan spells at MK Dons before).

But how about this wheels within wheels scenario:  Steve McClaren takes over for Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton and replaces Rickie Lambert (he follows Pochettino to Spurs) with Bamford.  This ensures that Lukaku stays around with Chelsea instead (maybe, hopefully, oh please oh please) and gives Bamford yet another new, tougher challenge.  It's a win-win-win!