Sources suggest fee agreed for Bamford in Leeds United striker search

United have been looking for a new striker option all summer and the club's bid to land long-term target Matej Vydra from Derby County hit the buffers when last season's Championship top scorer issued increased wage demands.

Vydra was still photographed in Leeds city centre on Thursday afternoon but the striker's wages remain a stumbling block and Derby boss Frank Lampard insisted on Saturday evening that his side had still not received any bids for Vydra's services.

Instead, news emerged on Saturday from sources in the north east that United were closing in on agreeing a fee with Middlesbrough for Bamford and Sky are now reporting that a £7m fee has been agreed.

The fee is said to be worth potentially up to £10m with a number of add-ons being included in the potential deal.

Bamford, 24, netted 13 goals in 44 appearances for Middlesbrough last term as the club finished fifth with the striker netting a hat-trick when the Teessiders beat United 3-0 at the Riverside in March.

There has been no official confirmation that a bid for his services has been launched or even agreed between Leeds and Boro but the YEP understands there is definite interest in the striker who began his career at Nottingham Forest before signing for Chelsea.

Leeds made their first permanent signing of the summer on Saturday evening when landing the impressive capture of Championship winning left back Barry Douglas from Wolves for an undisclosed fee on a three year deal.

Reports during the week suggested that that the fee would be around £3m with the defender becoming the club's third signing of the summer following loan deals to land Chelsea duo goalkeeper Jamal Blackman and midfielder Lewis Baker.

Leeds had also looked set to meet Derby's valuation of around £11m for Vydra but the YEP understands that the striker's increased wage demands led the club to look for alternatives such as Bamford.

Asked about Vydra on Saturday evening, Derby boss Lampard said: "He's a good player obviously but at the minute we are in a bit of limbo with that one. We are not sure and it should pan itself out in the next two or three days I should think because we need some clarity on it going into the season."

Lampard admitted there "are people interested" in Vydra but asked if his club had received any actual offers for the striker, the Rams boss said: "No, as far as I know, no."

Derby, amid financial pressures at Pride Park, are keen to move Vydra on despite his impressive tally of 22 goals last term.

As well as being on the hunt for a new striker, Leeds are also thought to be keen to add a winger and a midfielder before the August 9 deadline.