Anthony Onifade

Thu 6 April 2023 12:10, UK

Patrick Bamford reportedly has offers to quit Leeds United in the summer and given his stark decline this season, he can no longer start games for Javi Gracia.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the 29-year-old already has “has many proposals to change the air and go to a club with more sporting aspirations” with the Whites lining up a move for Real Madrid’s Mariano if Bamford leaves.

The Elland Road fan favourite has struggled to find his best form again this past year after returning from a long injury layoff back in February 2022.

Since then, he’s only managed four goals in all competitions losing his place in the team as a result of Rodrigo’s terrific form.

And in not for a lack of trying, Leeds United have already been linked with several striker targets to replace him for the long-term, even after signing Georginio Rutter for £35.5m [Sky Sports, 15 January] in January.

However, Bamford has recently come back into Gracia’s thinking in recent weeks after Rodrigo’s injury issue, but is yet to set Elland Road alight like he used to.

The Whites moved up to 13th in the Premier League table after picking up a vital three points against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night [4 April] in a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra.

However, the form of Bamford will have given Javi Gracia a huge cause for concern as the 29-year-old simply struggled to impress at the expense of Rodrigo who was left on the bench.

As per Sofascore, the former Chelsea striker would earn a disappointing 6.3/10 rating for his performance, – ranking him as the worst Leeds player on the pitch.

The 29-year-old registered five shots in the game but failed to test Keylor Navas in the Forest goal with any of them, as he put two off-target and saw three efforts blocked.

Bamford was presented with an excellent opportunity to extend the home side’s lead late on after a mix-up at the back by Forest, but he shot way wide, a damaging representation of yet another underwhelming season and rapid decline in a Leeds United shirt thus far.

The injury-prone forward also failed with three of his four dribble attempts, lost possession on 14 occasions and completed just 14 of his 19 attempted passes, with a disappointing success rate of 74% [SofaScore].

With the Whites wrapped in a nerve-wrenching and tight relegation battle, Gracia will desperately be needing 100% performance levels from his men but isn’t getting that from Bamford right now.

And with 11-goal Rodrigo back fit and firing after his impressive cameo on Tuesday night, the former Watford coach may no longer look to start Bamford moving forward.

In other Leeds United news, a teenager now looks closer than ever to his debut after what he did at Thorp Arch during the international break with Javi Gracia taking note.

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