Wrexham have been busy in the transfer market this summer after gaining promotion to the Championship but are still looking to add to their squad before the window closes
Ryan Reynolds is the co-owner of Wrexham
Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham could pen a deal for Patrick Bamford following his departure from Leeds United
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Wrexham can now secure their previous target Patrick Bamford on a free transfer following Leeds United's decision to part ways with him.
The Red Dragons have already welcomed ten fresh signings this summer following their promotion to the Championship in April. However, manager Phil Parkinson remains eager for more reinforcements before Monday's transfer deadline.
Additional attacking power has been secured through the purchase of strikers Kieffer Moore and Ryan Hardie, bought from Sheffield United and Plymouth respectively. Forwards Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich and Josh Windass from Sheffield Wednesday have also arrived after major spending was approved by owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.
Earlier in the window, Wrexham were also connected with Leeds striker Bamford, and he is now available for free after being released by the Premier League newcomers. The 31-year-old, who has one England cap to his name, departed by mutual agreement on Thursday following a seven-year stint at the club.
It followed last month's announcement by manager Daniel Farke that he wasn't included in his plans for this campaign and would need to train with the club's under-21s should he choose to stay. Bamford confessed to feeling "raw" regarding his exit from Leeds.
Writing on Instagram, he said: "Right now, with the way it has come to an end and the way things have been handled recently, it is all too raw for me to reflect on immediately. But in the years to come I will look back at this period of my life with nothing but joy and pride and be super happy with what I have achieved.
Patrick Bamford scores for Leeds United after capitalising on an error from Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk
Patrick Bamford scored for Leeds United in September 2020 after capitalising on an error from Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk
"I want to thank all the managers I played under but especially Marcelo Bielsa. I don't know where the club would be without the foundations he laid."
Bamford netted 60 goals in 205 appearances for the Whites following his £7million move from Middlesbrough in 2018. He secured promotion from the Championship on two occasions with Leeds and shone during their initial return to the Premier League in 2020, bagging 17 goals.
It was in September of that year when Bamford exposed Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk during an encounter at Anfield. The Reds triumphed 4-3 but were given a fright by Leeds, with Bamford finding the net with a first-half leveller that saw the Netherlands international branded "arrogant" by club legend Jamie Carragher.
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The defender failed to control a long ball in the penalty area, allowing it to drop into Bamford's path. The Leeds forward swiftly capitalised on the mistake, drilling the ball beyond a stranded Alisson Becker to level the score at 2-2.
Carragher was far from impressed with Van Dijk's judgement and criticised the centre-half for his failure to take control of the situation. But Bamford's form has steadily declined since that point due to a string of injuries.
He failed to make a start for Leeds in the Championship during last season and was unable to score in his 17 appearances from the bench. However, he could serve as an outstanding back-up choice for Wrexham, given their main striker Kieffer Moore is currently dealing with a persistent ankle problem.
The Wales international initially sustained the injury during Wrexham's 2-1 loss to Southampton on the Championship season's opening day. Although there were worries he might face an extended absence, Moore subsequently featured in their 3-2 home loss against West Brom and netted twice in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Parkinson admitted on Thursday that he was still having to manage the player's game time, though, which could indicate the requirement for an additional striker. Bamford's availability as a free agent would therefore make him a potentially appealing prospect.
"We are keeping him [Moore] going until the weekend and then we will assess the ankle after that," Parkinson said. "But he is strapping it up and getting on with it which is what you need but we have got to make sure he keeps getting training in his legs as well.
"If you look at the West Brom game, he didn't do anything for the whole week and was just half-a-yard away so we have got to get that balance right with him."