Patrick Bamford ‘to leave Leeds United’ despite Premier League promotion
Leeds United know that following promotion, significant surgery will be required to take place on the squad at Elland Road.
The ever-widening gap between the Premier League and Championship in terms of finances means even the very best squads seen in the second tier struggle to cope with what even the lesser-performing outfits in the top flight have to offer.
Daniel Farke, the recruitment team and the board will have a job on their hands to shape the side, as well as make a few astute signings to make the team fully capable for a 38-game Premier League campaign.
Leeds United ‘likely to let Patrick Bamford leave’
Bamford is a player who has become part of the furniture at Leeds United, having now been at Elland Road for seven seasons, making over 200 appearances.
The one-time England striker has enjoyed various purple patches during his time in West Yorkshire – none more so than the 17-goal Premier League campaign he registered in 2020-21. It remains his highest goal tally in a season at Leeds to date.
However, the 31-year-old has been on the periphery with severe injury struggles in more recent times, despite Farke’s insistence that he remains a key part of his squad.
Bamford has a year remaining on his current contract, but despite featuring in each of Leeds’ last five games, he has not played more than 28 minutes in a single match this term and has so far failed to score.
TV commentator and football analysis expert Ian Darke has admitted Bamford will probably leave Elland Road this summer, as he does not expect the frontman to be part of Farke’s plans in the Premier League.
“I’d be surprised if he has a future at Leeds, to be honest,” Darke exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“It’s been a long time since we saw the best of Bamford, and there have just been too many injuries and too much of a dip in form.
“I don’t feel he’ll be a big part of a Leeds United team in the Premier League next season.”
Joel Piroe fancied to get Premier League opportunity
Darke also recently added that the Leeds hero of Easter Monday, Joel Piroe, will get his Premier League chance next season as a key part of the squad.
Piroe had gone almost two months without a goal until Monday, but smashed home four of Leeds’ six as they swept aside Stoke City with a gusto at Elland Road (21 April).
| Leeds United – senior strikers in Championship 2024-25 | Appearances | Starts | Goals |
| Joel Piroe | 44 | 34 | 19 |
| Mateo Joseph | 37 | 11 | 3 |
| Patrick Bamford | 15 | 0 | 0 |
The 25-year-old has, unlike Bamford, not yet played in the English top flight, having been a regular with both Swansea City and Leeds in the Championship across the past four seasons.
Piroe leads the Championship charts with 19 this season, adding to his 13 from last term – though he twice broke the 20-goal barrier for Swansea having arrived from the Netherlands in 2021.