MOT View: Bamford Exit Should Be Considered After Leeds Fans’ Elland Road Experience

After two games at Elland Road, Leeds United has one draw and one defeat, conceding six goals.

In their opening Championship game, newly promoted Portsmouth took a point back to the south coast, followed by a midweek Carabao Cup embarrassment against Middlesbrough, highlighting Daniel Farke’s side’s vulnerabilities.

In these matches, Patrick Bamford appeared lost and ineffective. In the draw against Portsmouth, the former Chelsea striker played only 11 minutes as a substitute.

According to WhoScored, Bamford completed just one of three passes attempted, and his sole shot at goal missed the target, yielding an xG of only 0.1 [FBRef].

Against Middlesbrough, Farke started Bamford, marking his first competitive start since his goal in the 4-3 win away at Middlesbrough on April 22. However, Bamford’s performance was underwhelming.

Fotmob statistics reveal that he managed only one off-target shot, had just 22 touches in 90 minutes, failed to complete a dribble, and lost four of five duels.

Overall, Bamford’s performance was disappointing, raising questions about Leeds’ continued reliance on the one-time England international.

Will Leeds United sell Patrick Bamford before the August transfer deadline? 

This summer, Leeds fans have already bid farewell to Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, and Crysencio Summerville, with Georginio Rutter likely to follow [Florian Plettenberg].

While fans expected interest in these key players, losing all four is a significant blow.

Bamford, however, remains at Elland Road despite his declining form. Since his 17-goal Premier League season in 2021/22, Bamford has been plagued by injuries and poor performances, save for a brief resurgence last season.

Now approaching 31, he still has two years remaining on his contract, which is likely one of the highest-paid at the club.

Potential suitors may be deterred by Bamford’s lack of goal-scoring prowess or the financial burden of his contract.

Regardless, Leeds does not appear to have made efforts to offload the player, who has been struggling for some time.

As the August deadline looms, Leeds faces critical decisions about its squad composition, especially concerning Bamford.

The club’s early-season struggles underscore the need for a more effective forward line, raising the stakes for potential transfer activity in the coming weeks.