Leeds United are closing in on the announcement of their tenth summer signing in Leicester City’s James Justin, but with such an influx of arrivals, the club need to sell a few players as well.
Justin will be the club’s fourth defensive addition alongside Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson, with Lucas Perri added in goal. Two new midfielders and three shiny new attackers, too.
Plenty have come in and eight of the 10 – including Justin – have caps for their country. The wage bill will have certainly increased and Leeds need to take action to reduce it where they can before the deadline.
Some have left, but only on loan. Mateo Joseph, Max Wober, Charlie Crew and Joe Gelhardt have all gone on loan, while Junior Firpo, Josuha Guilavogui, Manor Solomon and Joe Rothwell’s exits have made space.
Leeds need permanent exits, Patrick Bamford is a key candidate
But Leeds have a few players that need to move on. Daniel Farke likes a tight-knit squad and there are a handful of players that are simply not going to play. Largie Ramazani is closing in on a move to Valencia.
Illan Meslier is a target for Cesc Fabregas’ Como, while Meslier’s old side Lorient have held talks for him. But the stand-out player that needs a move is Patrick Bamford, and Danny Mills has discussed his future.
Mills tells TeamTalk that Leeds need to release Bamford: “I guess Leeds will let Patrick go for nothing – just to get him off the wage bill. Is he going to play this season? Probably not is the answer,” Mills suggested.
“Leeds will be thinking ‘if he sits on his contract and stays then we’re paying him anyhow, but if we can find a taker for him then he’s off the wage bill’,” Mills added. “For the sake of his career, he needs to play.
“Leeds have shown their intentions this season by signing two new strikers and with Daniel Farke having come out and said Bamford is not in his plans,” Mills continued, reminding fans of Farke’s comments.
How much does Patrick Bamford earn and which clubs are keen?
Unfortunately, after such a frustrating few seasons with injury and a £70,000-a-week wage, suitors are not plentiful. Nothing has come forward in terms of concrete interest in him, but two definitely won’t be.
Wrexham chief Humphrey Ker told Chris Moyles that Wrexham wouldn’t sign Bamford. They have since got Ryan Hardie, Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass alongside current attackers.
Middlesbrough has been touted as a possible landing spot, given the presence of Luke Ayling and it being Bamford’s old side. But, Middlesbrough are showing no interest in Bamford at this moment in time.
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