Championship sides Birmingham City, Coventry City, Middlesbrough, as well as recently promoted sides Burnley and Sunderland, have all been linked with Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford, according to TeamTalk.
The 31-year-old has been told by Leeds manager Daniel Farke that he isn’t in his plans for this season, and has been told to find a new club this summer, according to an article on the BBC.
Bamford joined the Whites in 2018 for a seven-figure fee from Middlesbrough, with two of his former clubs among those interested in the striker.
Patrick Bamford’s Career and Goal-Scoring Record
Bamford is a vastly experienced player in both the Premier League and Championship, with over 300 appearances to his name in those divisions alone.
Playing for a plethora of clubs on loan whilst contracted with Chelsea, his stay at Elland Road was by far the longest stint where he has stayed at one place in his career, but after seven years at the club, he is surplus to requirements.
In just over 200 appearances for Leeds, the striker has scored 60 goals and contributed 25 assists, 17 of which came in Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League for 14 years in the 2020/21 season, which helped them stay in the division.
Since then, however, the striker has struggled to hit double digits for goals in a season, with injury problems also creeping into his game, meaning game time last season was limited.
Five-Way Race and a Three-Way Championship Race
Three Championship sides who are all chasing promotion are in the picture to sign the 31-year-old, with two recently promoted ones also said to be interested.
In this window, Birmingham have strengthened at the striker position, bringing in Kyogo Furuhashi to rival current strikers Jay Stansfield and Lyndon Dykes, but have let go of Alfie May, who has joined Huddersfield Town.
Coventry have the likes of Ellis Simms, Haji Wright, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Norman Basette, but with Wright injured and Basette linked with moves away, adding another striker to the squad wouldn’t be the worst idea.
Middlesbrough have so far had a very slow window under new manager Rob Edwards, but have the likes of Tommy Conway, Marcus Forss and talented teenager Sonny Finch available in that department, but a move for the former striker also wouldn’t be questioned, the striker scoring 33 goals in 97 over his two stints at the club.
Writer’s View
It’s a shame to see the Bamford era at Leeds come to an end so abruptly after what the striker has done for the club, but that is the nature of football, unfortunately.
Despite his age, Bamford could still prove to be a solid, experienced option at Championship level, and would be a good signing for all three clubs on this list.
