It is often the case that promotion and relegation can determine the future of a player. Even if a player fights with all his might for promotion, and find a new signing has replaced him.
That is the case at Leeds United this summer. The first casualty could well be Pascal Struijk with the club’s vice captain now finding a rather large object in his path, in the form of new £15m signing Jaka Bijol.
It is going to happen more, too. While Sebastiaan Bornauw and Gabriel Gudmundsson have come in as replacements for Max Wober and Junior Firpo, new signings will join the club to replace existing stars.
For those who have given their all for the badge over the last two years, in an attempt to get Leeds out of the Championship, they may find their place in the side is under threat, even if they are well-liked.
Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty ImagesPatrick Bamford desperate to remain at Leeds United
One example is Patrick Bamford. While he may not have scored during 2024-25, he is fit and firing and of the current options up top, the one-time England man – at his best – could well be Leeds’ best option.
Joel Piroe currently boasts that position, but Leeds are expected to make a big signing up front. Lukas Nmecha has come in and with Bamford out of contract in 2026, his Leeds future is very much in doubt.
Graham Smyth said in 2024 that he expects Bamford to leave this summer. But, nothing has come of a potential exit despite Bamford’s contract, and now he has told LUTV he hopes to make an impact.
Bryn Law asked Patrick Bamford on LUTV if he can share his experience of the Premier League with the rest of the group, and Bamford replied: “Hopefully, we’ve seen over the last few years that it is tough.
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“But we’ve also shown before that when we’ve come up, we’ve absolutely flown into the Premier League. There’s no reason why we can’t, hopefully I can give a little bit of experience and advice. We’ll be fine.”
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesPatrick Bamford is trying to offer Daniel Farke something else
When Bamford signed for Leeds in 2018, he was very much a lean striker. Perfect for Marcelo Bielsa, because the striker was willing to run the channels, be the first line of the press and work his socks off.
These days, Bamford is a bit older and uses his intelligence to put himself in positions. Daniel Farke will not want his strikers burning themselves out and ultimately, Bamford knows he won’t be first choice.
But the way Bamford has thrown on the muscle this summer is eye-catching. It is almost as if Bamford has identified something Farke needs, Farke wants and actually, Farke lacks. A big, powerhouse, no.9.