Patrick Bamford to stay at Leeds United past transfer deadline despite plan to sell
Leeds United are in major need of high-quality attacking additions before the transfer deadline but one man that is highly unlikely to move out in that time is Patrick Bamford.
Georginio Rutter leaving for Brighton after his release clause was triggered [The Athletic, 14 August], within a fortnight of the same mechanism taking Crysencio Summerville to West Ham [The Athletic, 5 August], has left Daniel Farke without his top two forward stars from last season.
Bamford was part of a hugely-disappointing starting line-up which lost 3-0 at home to Middlesbrough in midweek along with Joel Piroe, Joe Gelhardt and controversial former loanee Brenden Aaronson.
The American may have scored a late equaliser against Portsmouth on the opening day, but also contrived to miss and even later sitter which could have snatched a win, and the weakened line-up were fairly dismal at West Brom, so supporters are desperately hoping for an offensive overhaul in the days before the 30 August deadline.
But however much they, or logic, might suggest now is the right time for Bamford to move on it looks like he will still be at Elland Road come the start of September.
Daniel Farke needs Leeds United reinforcements
The 30-year-old’s future at the club has been in doubt for at least a year after he finished a miserable relegation season suffering abuse online which then-manager Sam Allardyce spoke out against [Sky Sports].
He was reportedly ready to leave last summer [Mail Plus] but no move materialised, and after struggling to make much of a positive impact while causing more controversy with a high profile dive [Mirror, 5 October] and a missed penalty for half the season, he was restored to the line-up at the turn of the year by Farke and responded with seven league goals in a run of 10 games.
But the Daily Mail reported again on 1 July that after the exit of Archie Gray to Tottenham the Whites were planning to offload the striker or Dutch forward Joel Piroe.
More than a month and a half later and neither have gone, while it is difficult to see anybody coming in to take the 1-cap England international this window.
Bamford’s potential exit was considered one of the “most interesting” questions of the summer by the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth on 14 June, as the personal strain of injuries and a difficult relationship with supporters at Leeds could mean he is ready to depart.
Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville exits up pressure
Yet his high wages were noted as a stumbling block for any club who might be interested, when his fitness record means there is no guarantee he will be regularly available.
That echoed the verdict of The Athletic’s Phil Hay on The Square Ball on 8 June when he suggested that it would be “difficult” for Bamford to move when there was no obvious landing spot for him and his contract.
The former Chelsea and Middlesbrough man often doesn’t help himself and draws criticism for antics on the pitch from the likes of Mike Dean, but it is the club’s fault more than his that there hasn’t been an obvious replacement for him as number nine.
Mateo Joseph is now emerging and might answer that question and the Whites are in the race to sign Hammarby’s Jusef Erabi ahead of Norwich City [Marc Mechenoua, 16 August].
It would make a lot of sense for player and club for Bamford to move onto a new start and the Whites to properly replace him at last.
But if that was going to happen then it surely would have done by now, and with two years left on his contract he isn’t likely to look like a bargain opportunity for suitors as the deadline approaches, so if clubs don’t want him then there is no option for him to stay and make the best of things in West Yorkshire.
In other Leeds United news, Farke is planning four new signings before the transfer deadline.
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