Patrick Bamford now surely emptying Leeds United locker after behind-the-scenes development
Patrick Bamford may now be emptying his Leeds United locker after an outburst behind the scenes where he claimed the club were “run terribly”.
It was a season to forget for Bamford, who managed just four goals in 28 Premier League appearances as Leeds suffered relegation to the Championship.
Bamford has been on the receiving end of some terrible online abuse and is now facing a future away from Elland Road, with Fichajes revealing on 5 April that he has already got proposals on the table for a transfer in the summer given the difficulties he’s faced.
The club fan-favourite may now be reaching breaking point at the relegated club, after what happened recently behind the scenes.
According to Last Word On Sports (7 June) Bamford had an “outburst” during a social night out with the team earlier this season and made his intentions clear that he wanted out this summer.
“The previous leadership of Leeds United has been thrown into question once again, as sources tell Last Word on Football that Patrick Bamford spoke out against the club at a social event late last year,” they wrote.
“The English striker is understood to have said that the club was ‘run terribly’ and stated his intention to leave in the summer window.”
Given the recent controversies at Leeds United recently, especially surrounding Andrea Radrizzani’s use of Elland Road as security for a potential purchase of Sampdoria, Bamford can be forgiven for reaching the point of no return at the club, but his problems certainly run deeper.
According to Hay, writing for The Athletic [31 May], the Whites may have to consider letting him go with the Leeds United faithful running out of patience with him.
“Leeds might have to think about saving Patrick Bamford from himself,” he wrote.
“This has been another extremely difficult year for him and there are surely only so many times you can dangle him in front of a crowd who are trying to be patient but seriously struggling.
“It will look ridiculous if next season continues in the same vein.”
It’s unlikely the forward will want to be playing Championship football again, especially with his worrying injury record potentially facing more damaging consequences playing a 46-game season.
And maybe his recent outburst was a result of his foretelling that the club were inevitably heading towards an exit from the Premier League. Indeed, things have not been plain sailing in West Yorkshire, with several sackings just this season alone, and also the firing of sporting director Victor Orta.
Nonetheless, the Elland Road forward has struggled to find his best form again this past year after returning from a long injury layoff back in February 2022, and Leeds United fans will admit he’s looked a shadow of his former self for a long while.
Whether that’s a result of all the uncertainty above him, or his lack of motivation only he knows.
With a huge summer ahead for Leeds United, surrounding the potential 49ers Enterprises takeover and a major overhaul in the playing squad, the Whites will surely welcome any offers for Bamford’s services this summer.
At its best the marriage between Leeds and Bamford was perfect, but his poor injury record and decline in form means now is the right time to bring things to an amicable end.
Now, his latest outburst should give the Leeds United hierarchy all the indication they need about locating a long-term replacement for Bamford. Who knows, he may have emptied his locker at Thorp Arch already.
In other Leeds news, one first-team player is being targeted by a European club to replace a legendary ace.