Patrick Bamford reacts as headline surgery confirmed
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford is coming off another injury-riddled season with the Whites.
Bamford, 31, was limited to just 17 appearances off the bench last season in the Championship as Daniel Farke’s side won the league, amassing 100 points.
Naturally, with the Englishman coming off a season where he did not score a single goal, United are in the market for a new striker ahead of their Premier League return.
Rodrigo Muniz has been linked with a move up north, with the Fulham striker already being the subject of a bid from Leeds that was promptly rejected.
Bamford reacts to surgery news
Along with their pursuit of Muniz, the 49ers are hoping to lure another Brazilian to Elland Road, with Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao another name at the top of their shopping list.
Leeds’ return to the Premier League means they need a squad that has multiple quality players in each position.
United should know this after their previous stint in the top-flight, where multiple injuries to key players like Kalvin Phillips and Bamford forced Marcelo Bielsa into attempting to put square pegs in round holes in their place before the Argentinian was unjustly sacked.
With Bamford building up his fitness ahead of the new season, he, more than anyone, is aware of the frustrations that injuries cause players.
When Jude Bellingham posted on his Instagram account (18 July) announcing that he had just undergone shoulder surgery, Bamford was quick to show his support for the Real Madrid star, leaving a like on the post.
The pair were previously teammates for England at international level, but Bamford seemingly has a mountain to climb if he ever wants to regain his spot, which is near-on impossible.
Leeds need better depth up front than Bamford
With Farke seemingly relying on Sam Byram to be Gabriel Gudmundsson’s cover at left-back, Leeds cannot afford to have players of this calibre playing for them in the Premier League.
At best, Byram should be a third-choice full-back.
Similarly, with Mateo Joseph having an uncertain future in West Yorkshire, Bamford currently appears to be the Whites’ second-choice striker behind Joel Piroe.
This type of squad depth is a recipe for relegation, with Leeds just a few injuries away from playing Byram and Bamford.
This pair would have left the fanbase underwhelmed if they were starting consistently in the Championship, never mind the Premier League.
The Whites cannot afford to be sentimental in their attempt to avoid the drop, with Bamford being one of the players Leeds should consider moving on in the summer.
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