Daniel Farke could be ready to offload one of his longest-serving Leeds United players in January, BBC pundit Adam Pope has suggested.
Leeds United’s midweek win against Middlesbrough gave us a lot of talking points, some good and bad, but mostly good.
The Whites were electric in the 3-1 win with Dan James impressing for Leeds United on the night, as Daniel Farke’s side moved into 1st place of the Championship table.
They’re back down to 2nd now after Sheffield United won 1-0 away at Millwall on Wednesday night. But the signs are certainly positive going into 2025.
Another talking point from the Boro game was the fact that Mateo Joseph started in attack, over both Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford.
Leeds United fans think Joseph is not quite ready to be a regular starter in the Championship, with Piroe coming off the bench and showing his class on the ball.
As for Bamford, he’s made just one substitute appearance in the last six games now, having featured seven times in the Championship this season.
Patrick Bamford faces uncertain January at Leeds United after Middlesbrough snub
Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds recently [December 10th], pundit Adam Pope gave his thoughts on the Middlesbrough game and on Farke’s selection of strikers during the match.
He believes that the fact Farke opted for Joseph in the starting spot, over Bamford, suggests that the 31-year-old Leeds star could be in store for a possible January transfer out of Elland Road.
Pope said: “To not pick him [Bamford] ahead of Joseph for a big game tonight – he’s the one who didn’t perform against Boro when he did get his first start and only start this season earlier on in the campaign – that sort of says something, doesn’t it, of where Farke sees Bamford maybe.
“He can’t cast him out, he’s not going to admit that, is he? But, is there something happening with Patrick Bamford in January, you wonder.”
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Bamford remains under contract until the summer of 2026. But he’s certainly falling down the pecking order with no goals in his seven Championship outings this season, compared to eight in 33 last time round.
Speaking to Leeds United News earlier in December, transfer expert Graeme Bailey suggested Leeds United are open to selling Bamford in January, but that moving him on is going to be tough given his wages.
Bailey explained: “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.”
Whether Bamford features in Leeds’ remaining four fixtures of December could be a huge indication as to whether or not he leaves the club in January.
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