There was one notable absence from the Leeds United side which played out a goalless draw with Manchester United in a preseason friendly on Saturday in Stockholm. It was the omission of long-serving striker Patrick Bamford.
Since he joined from Middlesbrough in 2018, Bamford has been a staple of the Leeds United squad. In his first two seasons with the club, he scored 26 goals, helping the club earn its first Premier League promotion since its relegation in 2004.
In the 2020/21 Premier League season, Bamford’s 17 goals tied him fourth with Heung-Min Son amongst the league’s top goalscorers, and earned him his first call-up to the England national team.
However, after that first successful season, injury problems hampered the striker’s progress. He missed most of the next season with hamstring and foot injuries. While he played 33 games in 2022/23, it was a small return of just four goals in 28 Premier League appearances as the club was relegated back to the Championship.
Since returning to the second division, it’s been much the same story for Bamford. Some progress was made in 23/24, with eight Championship goals scored in 33 appearances, but it was curtailed by another injury-riddled season last year.
Now, after seven years with Leeds United and at 31 years old, it appears Bamford’s career with the club is coming to an end.
What Happened?
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke candidly answered reporters when questioned about Bamford’s omission from the squad on Saturday. Saying the striker is not part of the club’s plans for their return to the Premier League.
“I had a really open and honest conversation with Patrick, which was important,” Farke said. “He is a player who needs to be the main man. He needs an arm round the shoulder after some difficult seasons. I was not willing to tell him he was the main man at Premier League level.”
With Joel Piroe, Lukas Nmecha, Harry Gray, and Mateo Joseph all also on the books for Leeds, Farke said he felt the club had too many strikers.
Where to next for Bamford?
Farke confirmed that Bamford will train with the U-21s while he searches for his next club, and since the announcement, several teams have emerged as possible destinations for the striker.
Newly promoted side Wrexham emerged as candidates to sign the striker. Owned by celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham tried to sign Bamford back in January, but didn’t get a deal over the line.
Wrexham striker Paul Mullin left the club to join Wigan on loan this summer, so they’re in the market for a striker who can provide competition for last season’s top scorer Sam Smith. However, Bamford’s high wages are reportedly a roadblock in the deal.
While no club in particular has emerged as a candidate, the MLS is another option for the striker. He recently spoke to CBS Sports about a potential move to the United States. It’s an option he and his family have considered, he said.
“It was something that when I was younger I always wanted to do at some point in my career, to kind of experience it, experience a new country, living the lifestyle there and also trying myself in a new league,” Bamford said.
It will be interesting to watch the situation develop over the coming weeks, as new clubs are likely to emerge as candidates now that the striker’s departure is all but confirmed.
