Leeds are facing a return to the Championship this season, starting in less than a fortnight’s time with a home clash against Cardiff City.
There are plenty of areas that are needing to be strengthened, especially in attack after the club lost top-scorer Rodrigo to Al Rayyan earlier in the month.
It was reported by the Daily Mail previously in the summer that Patrick Bamford was one of the players due to leave the club, following an end to the season he will be trying his best to forget about.
Bamford was heavily criticised in the relegation run-in by Leeds fans and neutrals after high-profile misses against Leicester City and Newcastle.
However, the YEP are now reporting that the striker is set to stay at the club as an exodus continues around him at Thorp Arch.
Graham Smyth assessed the attacking options on offer for Daniel Farke, to which his existing crop are likely to stay put:
“It is in the current central options that Farke arguably has the most concrete idea of his post-deadline remainers. Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter and Mateo Joseph are all expected to stay, with only Sonny Perkins slated for a possible loan move.”
Bamford staying is something that fans can accept, but not if he’s the starter every week.
He has not got the quality in front of goal to consistently be called upon, no matter whether he can hold the ball up or link play.
Those characteristics are completely immaterial if he’s missing open goals and seeing us drop points each week.
If he’s backup to a 20-goal striker, that is something that fans can live with.
