According to Phil Hay, Patrick Bamford’s departure from Leeds United this summer will be “more difficult” than that of many of his teammates due to his high salary and a lack of apparent landing destinations.
On June 8, the Athletic journalist told the Square Ball that Championship sides would struggle to finance the English striker’s contract.
At the same time, he believes that, despite prior reports that Nottingham Forest were interested in him, there is now no clear path to the first division after a season in which the 30-year-old scored nine goals, all after the turn of the year.
Hay stated (13m 20s): “For Bamford, it’s a little bit more difficult, mainly because his wage will be high, so Championship clubs won’t be able to readily take it up.
“There was some chatter last season in January about Forest being interested in Bamford, but I’m not sure how much interest there is in the Premier League overall right now.
“Of the teams who have gone up he doesn’t seem to be someone who would particularly fit Leicester or Southampton or Ipswich, and that seems to me to be one of the positions where they [Leeds United] need to think about what they are going to do.”
Will Daniel Farke move on from the Leeds United striker?
Players are anticipated to be sold this summer, but whether Bamford stays or leaves, it is evident that the Whites must find a suitable like-for-like replacement for him.
Joel Piroe’s signing from Swansea last summer seemed that the club’s goal-scorer had been found, but Daniel Farke’s erratic deployment of the Dutchman makes it difficult to predict his place in the squad for next season.
Piroe scored 16 goals but was unproductive at times due to being deployed as a number 10 early in the season and then switching in and out of the starting lineup later in the season.
In any case, Bamford appears to be the best shape in the Leeds United lineup, but despite an improvement in fitness, he continues to suffer from untimely ailments.
So, even if he continues at Elland Road, Farke will need to find a player who can give the same style of play, unless the German intends to change things up.
Mateo Joseph’s breakthrough last season was exciting, but given how Joe Gelhardt burst into the scene and has since faded into obscurity, greater handling of the newest young scorer is required before he can be considered an established alternative.
