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Phil Hay: Leeds big-earner likely to have new contract high on agenda if Bielsa stays
Getting star striker Patrick Bamford tied down to a new contract is likely to be high on Leeds United’s list of priorities, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
Bamford, 27, has been in sensational form in the Premier League this season for Leeds, scoring 11 goals and supplying six assists in 21 appearances.
Last month, The Sun reported that Bamford’s form is set to be rewarded with a new lucrative contract as his existing £35,000-a-week deal expires at the end of next season.
Writing on The Athletic website on Monday, ex-Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Hay has reported that Marcelo Bielsa’s future at Elland Road might have an impact on Bamford’s contract talks but added that the centre-forward is already on a big wage at the club.
Hay said: “That will have to be fairly high on the list of priorities, especially if Bielsa is staying. His value can only have [increased] this season. He’s already on a pretty substantial wage though.”
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Leeds cannot go into the summer transfer window with Bamford in the final year of his contract so they need to get him tied down to fresh terms as soon as possible.
He’s English, at the peak of his career at the age of 27, has aspirations to play for England and is scoring goals in the Premier League. Big-spending clubs will love to lap up a striker like that.
Bamford’s form in the Premier League is a bit of a shock.
As we won promotion last season, the ex-Chelsea striker found himself regularly criticised by fans for not scoring enough goals and failing to take a glut of chances he was offered by his team-mates.
Many thought that Bielsa and Victor Orta would want to upgrade their striker options in the summer and when Spain’s number nine Rodrigo arrived from Valencia, we all thought that’s what would happen.
However, Rodrigo’s been mainly used as a midfielder and Bamford has started every single Premier League match as Bielsa’s lone striker.
It’s imperative that his contract situation is sorted out sooner rather than later because there will be clubs interested in taking him in the summer.
And if he’s in the final 12 months of his deal, there isn’t going to be much we can do to keep him.
In other Leeds United news, this Spanish midfielder is perfect for the Whites.