Leeds United would ‘listen to offers’ for attacker in January, but his wages are an issue

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Daniel Farke will not want anyone from his Leeds United squad to leave in January unless he can find a replacement.

Farke possesses one of the smallest squads in the Championship this season despite having depth most managers across the division are extremely envious of.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s clash with Derby County, Farke was once again asked about what the January transfer window could have in store at Elland Road.

The Leeds boss has insisted it will be a quiet month, but players are already beginning to be linked with exits, which would, of course, require replacements coming in.

Joe Gelhardt is keen on a loan away, something which Leeds are likely to facilitate, while Max Wober is wanted by former club Red Bull Salzburg.

• READ MORE: Daniel Farke says £13m Leeds United player is new injury doubt for Derby after knock in training

Leeds stance on Patrick Bamford future ahead of January

Gelhardt and Wober have both very much been on the fringes this term and another player in the same boat is Patrick Bamford.

The 31-year-old has played just 77 minutes of Championship football so far this season, though Farke did suggest Bamford has looked considerably more confident in training recently.

However, Bamford has found himself behind both Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph for a place in the starting line-up, while links to Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Dor Turgeman have also emerged.

Speaking exclusively to LeedsUnited.News, transfer expert Graeme Bailey says Bamford is someone Leeds would be willing to ‘listen to offers for’, but his ‘huge wages’ could prove to be a stumbling block.

He said: “Bamford’s on huge wages. He’s very, very hard to leave. They like him as a player. I think they would listen to offers for him, so let’s see how that transpires. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone lower down, but he’s a hard sell as well.

“His fitness record hasn’t been great over the last 12 months in particular. I don’t think they’d stand in his way, but he’s on big money, he’s one of the higher earners at Leeds. He’s hard to move on. I don’t think he’s desperate to move either. It would be tough to move him out.”

• READ MORE: Daniel Farke shares big injury update on Ethan Ampadu before Leeds United vs Derby, he’s ‘ahead of schedule’

What Daniel Farke said about Bamford pre-Derby

Injuries are a large reason why Bamford has fallen down the pecking order at Leeds, as Farke clearly doesn’t want to place an over reliance on him due to the risk of him breaking down in the future.

However, after using him ahead of Joseph at Blackburn, Farke has spoken of how Bamford’s run of three or four weeks without any fitness issues has made him more confident in training.

He said: “The first time in ages he’s been three or four weeks without injury. I have already spoken about how highly I rate a fully fit Patrick. You can see in training his confidence is coming back and he has a good chance. The decision to bring him on was not necessarily against Joseph.

“It suited Patrick for his physicality and his smart movement in the box, a good option when you need a goal out of nothing. Once he’s fit, I am grateful he’s in a good period, training more and more.”

Of course, Farke is never going to come out and say he wants to sell Bamford, but if he really is training well, then how he is used over the festive period could be a big tell tale sign regarding his future.