Should Leeds gain promotion to the Premier League come May, the club are expected to be very busy in the summer transfer market with a whole host of new additions expected.
But in order to do so, some players will have to leave, too. Three players are currently out of contract even if Leeds may choose to keep them, while a number of others have attracted interest over during 2024-25.
The likes of Illan Meslier, Pascal Struijk, Wilfried Gnonto and Patrick Bamford have all attracted interest from other clubs in recent months. Leeds will have to make a decision on a few of their current players.
Bamford is likely to be one that does depart come the summer. Currently injured, Bamford has started just one game all season and it came against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup back in August 2024.
Michael Carrick could reunite Luke Ayling with Patrick Bamford
Bamford is set to enter the final year of his contract at the end of the season and the chances of Leeds renewing that deal are tiny. Graham Smyth predicted Bamford would leave Leeds come the summer.
Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that one-time England man Bamford could actually end up at his old club Middlesbrough. It would see Bamford reunite with Luke Ayling, who joined Boro last summer.
Ayling signed a two-year deal in the summer of 2024 after an initial loan and of course, Boro allowed Emmanuel Latte Lath to leave. They signed Kelechi Iheanacho on loan ahead of Leeds as a replacement.
Bamford scored plenty of goals for Middlesbrough before Leeds
While a Chelsea player, Bamford went on loan seven times to six different clubs including MK Dons, Derby, Palace, Norwich and Burnley. In 2014-15, Bamford also joined Middlesbrough and starred for Boro.
He scored 19 goals in 44 games and that probably convinced Boro to then sign him permanently in January 2017 from Chelsea. He netted another 14 goals in 53 games before Leeds came calling in 2018.
So, Bamford is well-liked at The Riverside. There is a close connection in Ayling and a Leeds connection in Jonny Howson and Jonathan Woodgate. As Bailey says, it is a move that is certainly conceivable.
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