Patrick Bamford barrier emerges amid Leeds United exit verdict
Patrick Bamford is attracting little outside interest due to his high earnings at Leeds United, according to Ian Darke.
Bamford, 31, has been largely cast aside and has yet to start in the Championship for Daniel Farke this season, with Mateo Joseph or Joel Piroe preferred to lead the line.
TV commentator Darke, speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, described the situation that has ebbed away for Bamford at Elland Road as “sad” and named Harry Redknapp as an example of a former manager who could still obtain the best from his ability.
He said: “It’s a bit sad really, because he looked such a good player and he was knocking the door for England. He’s had some quite serious injuries along the way, and he seems to have lost something. To see him this far down the pecking order at Leeds is a bit of a worry.
“It’s interesting to me that if someone like Harry Redknapp was around managing these days, he might try and do a retread of Patrick Bamford like he once did for Kanu at Portsmouth. He could get him back to his former self and take a punt on him – he needs a manager to show faith in him.
“But his money is probably Premier League money which is why a lot of clubs won’t see it as worthwhile to take a punt on him. You know the quality is there, but it’s been well-hidden for a while and you hope he hasn’t moved into a comfort zone.”
Patrick Bamford wonders what next at Leeds United
Bamford has been accused of falling into a “comfort zone” from many quarters having not been first-choice at Leeds for a long time.
The experienced striker has been with the club since 2018 and is five off 200 appearances for the club, but it is anyone’s guess when that milestone may arrive for the one-cap England man.
Bamford’s contract at Elland Road expires in 2026, as the club and the player’s camp will surely reassess next summer what lies ahead.
In other Leeds news, an argument against signing a free agent winger with Championship experience.
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