Patrick Bamford was told on the second day of pre-season by Daniel Farke in a face-to-face chat that he will not be a part of the Leeds United manager’s plans for the 2025-26 season.
Bamford, who turns 32 in September, has a year remaining on his contract but has been told that he will have no part to play next season. Farke confirmed as much after Saturday’s friendly against Man United.
It comes after a number of seasons in which Bamford has spent more time in the treatment room than he has on the pitch. Last term, Bamford failed to start a single Championship game and didn’t score, either.
One of the club’s best-paid players, Bamford has now been told he is not in Farke’s plans. The Mail claim Farke chose to tell Bamford face-to-face, rather than asking Adam Underwood. He took the news well.
What Leeds sources are saying about Bamford after exit news
One noticeable thing is Bamford’s physique since pre-season got going again. The one-time England man has clearly been working on his physicality and has returned to training with plenty of added muscle.
The Mail say that sources inside the club say Bamford is the fittest he has been in years. Last summer, the striker could not feature in pre-season due to injury, immediately ending any chance of starting for Leeds.
It is said that before pre-season started, Bamford was working with the strength and conditioning coach at Leeds Beckett University. The results are there for all to see, Sam Byram impressed in a recent video.
Where will Patrick Bamford go with Leeds spell all but at an end?
In January, Bamford was linked with Patrick Vieira’s Genoa in Serie A and of course, Wrexham. Now, the Welsh side are in the Championship, though they have already signed Ryan Hardie from Plymouth.
Josh Windass is also expected to move to Wrexham from Sheffield Wednesday. So the chances of the Welsh side moving for Bamford seem unlikely. Humphrey Ker has already denied interest in Bamford.
Bamford has been open to an MLS move in the past, having been offered a place at Harvard University before choosing to pursue a football career. Certainly, Bamford will have to consider a pay cut.
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