Leeds United player says the Premier League ‘suits me’ better despite mixed 2024/25 in the Championship

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Leeds United’s players will all want to prove themselves in the Premier League next season. But who gets the chance to do so remains to be seen.

We could see some high profile player exits from Elland Road this summer, like we did last summer, as Leeds United not only look to balance the books but upgrade the quality within the side.

Names like Brenden Aaronson could come under the microscope. Leeds United fans were unimpressed with Aaronson at times last season and already it’s been suggested that Leeds United need to upgrade Aaronson in the summer.

But he’s not the only one. There’s probably very few Leeds players who you’d argue can make the step up to the Premier League with ease. For Daniel Farke then, this summer’s transfer window is crucial.

And what he does with Patrick Bamford is a pressing question. The 31-year-old is out of contract this summer, after a 2024/25 season where he didn’t start a single Championship match, failing to score in 17 appearances.

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Bamford is widely expected to leave Leeds United this summer. He was already a high-earner at the club but the Leeds United players will receive a pay rise following promotion, meaning Bamford could be earning something in the region of £70,000-a-week at Elland Road.

But the long-standing Whites player insists he’s better-suited to the Premier League anyway. Speaking on CBS Golazo with former Leeds man Mike Grella, Bamford said: “On a personal note I’m excited to be back playing there and I feel like almost playing in the Premier League suits me a little bit more. And obviously last time round I did pretty well when I was there so I’m hoping to kind of emulate that.”

Bamford surprised everyone in the 2020/21 Premier League season in particular – Leeds United’s first season back in the top flight – scoring an impressive 17 goals and playing in all 38 of their league games too.

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That 2020/21 season was five years ago now. A lot has changed since. Bamford doesn’t have the fitness record now that he did then and so there’s huge reservations about whether or not he could emulate that from next season.

And Farke already has his eyes on new strikers. Leeds United are readying a bid for Troy Parrott at AZ Alkmaar after his 20-goal haul in the Netherlands this season, whilst Everton striker Beto is linked with a move to Elland Road as well.

It suggests that Bamford is one who’s well down the pecking order and given his wages, he’s surely someone who Farke is keen to get off the books this summer. But if he’s kept around then he’s a useful option nonetheless.