Patrick Bamford is in the final year of his Leeds United contract in 2025/26 but Daniel Farke will still want to utilise the striker if he can remain fit.
Despite the addition of Lukas Nmecha, Leeds United’s striker department is one area of concern and Bamford’s future has been called into question given the fact Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph are also his competition.
That said, Bamford believes Leeds can survive relegation and he evidently wants to be a part of their plans in the Premier League. In part, that may be due to the fact Bamford’s wages have increased since promotion as well.
It means he is a big financial burden for a player not featuring regularly. It’s why Bamford has had to deal with criticism from Leeds fans for a number of years now, with the 31-year-old becoming increasingly injury-prone.
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Patrick Bamford’s wife shares amusing post about the Leeds striker
The one-cap England international is a divisive figure at Leeds, but Joseph departing could improve Bamford’s outlook on his position in the pecking order next term.
There is still plenty of the transfer window left for things to change in Leeds’ attack but Bamford has the chance to be involved if his fitness can maintain, especially as the 6’1″ striker has plenty of the required attributes to pin defenders.
He also has the intelligence in his pressing and the intensity to be a real focal point and spearhead an attack as the lone centre-forward for any team in the Premier League or Championship.
His body lets him down, which is the main issue. The other problem is his finishing. However, if he can remain fit and firing, then a potential renaissance of his Leeds career could be in order.
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Leeds fans are already amazed at Bamford’s new physique and further images showcase just how hard at work he has been in the off-season prior to a return to pre-season training this week.
Patrick’s wife Michaela has since shared the above to Instagram, with the Leeds striker reposting it on his story. It is captioned by Michaela: “Hate having to spot him in this heat.”
Bamford is looking stronger and more powerful than ever ahead of what is a season in the most physically demanding major league in the world.
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Farke hasn’t been able to capture Bamford’s best form in the way Marcelo Bielsa did
Farke is the next candidate to try and emulate Marcelo Bielsa’s efforts, and so far Farke has managed records Bielsa hasn’t, albeit he must now achieve top flight success with Leeds.
Someone who did experience the brilliance of Bielsa and still playing to this day is Bamford, as he revealed to the Fozcast with Ben Foster exactly what the Argentine did after he was sacked.
“Wherever he’s left before, he never comes back into speak to the players, but he came in the next day,” Bamford said.
“It was sad, he got emotional, and then I went the day after. I went to his house to say thank you, and he was in there with two of his analysts, and he was watching football!
“He took 10 minutes to talk to me, and I was just like, ‘wow, you’ve literally left the club two days ago’.”