Patrick Bamford exit: Leeds United start ‘dream’ transfer scenario already
Patrick Bamford was involved again as Leeds United took another step towards the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Oxford United on Good Friday.
Despite the Whites’ promotion push, which now looks set to have a positive ending, long-serving forward Bamford has endured a lack of game time with injury issues.
The striker played a key role when Leeds won the Championship title in 2020, but with the West Yorkshire outfit seemingly set for promotion once more this term, the striker has not made a single start.
The Elland Road club have not missed his presence, as they are the top scorers in the Championship and have scored 83 goals ahead of Easter Monday’s clash with Stoke City.
Bamford dream exit scenario outlined
Daniel Farke’s men are already eyeing Brighton’s Evan Ferguson as a long-term replacement for Bamford, whose deal at Elland Road expires in 2026.
Despite that and the lack of goals, his impact off the bench in recent weeks has been immense in tight games, as Leeds fans celebrate him again.
Writing in the print edition of the Football League Paper [pg 7, 21 April], Chris Dunlavy suggests Bamford could be sticking around for another year, though.
He wrote: “As a newly promoted Premier League side, having an experienced top-flight striker who is willing to be second or third-choice and can be released for nothing in 12 months is pretty much the dream scenario.”
| Patrick Bamford stats | Championship 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 14 |
| Starts | 0 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
The Whites can all but secure their promotion to the Premier League with a victory over Stoke on Monday, as promotion rivals Burnley and Sheffield United face each other in the late kick-off.
Three points followed by the Blades dropping points of their own would be enough.
Bamford has been a top servant for Leeds
Bamford previously established himself as one of the best strikers in the Championship when he notched 16 goals in 45 second-tier outings as Leeds sealed promotion to the Premier League in 2020.
He then went on to display his goal-scoring prowess in the top-flight, as he scored 17 goals in 38 Premier League appearances, sealing an unlikely top-half spot under heroic boss Marcelo Bielsa.
As alluded to by Dunlavy, Bamford’s experience in the top tier, coupled with his work ethic, could make him an ideal player for Farke to retain, even if he continues to play a small number of minutes.
While the striker is no longer the asset he once was at Elland Road, he still deserves plenty of respect for his exploits with the West Yorkshire giants, and Leeds could be keen to keep him on their books until 2026.