Latest news with #PatrickBamford
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Patrick Bamford knew the writing was on the wall for him at Leeds but his Elland Road exit will sting for a player who found a sense of belonging at the club, writes AADAM PATEL
Deep down, Patrick Bamford perhaps sensed that the writing was on the wall. When Leeds won promotion last season, the 31-year-old was at the heart of the celebrations. Bamford hadn't started a league game all term but after all those years of going from club to club, Leeds is where he felt most at home. The striker who plays the piano, violin, saxophone and guitar played Wagon Wheel on the guitar for his teammates, sang Unwritten alongside Ethan Ampadu and even ended up phoning Chris Wilder to apologise for singing that Wilder chant. Come the end of May, he was alongside the Kaiser Chiefs as they played 'I Predict a Riot' - a regular at Elland Road - at Temple Newsam in Leeds.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester United 0-0 Leeds United: A new formation, a new-look attack, goodbye Bamford?
Leeds United got their 2025 pre-season programme underway with a 0-0 draw against Manchester United in Stockholm on Saturday. There were debuts for the five new arrivals Leeds have drafted in this summer, while Patrick Bamford's absence arguably commanded the biggest headline of the day. Quality in both boxes was lacking from the two attacks, but this was always about the Leeds players banking minutes in their first outing of the summer. The majority of the squad Farke took to Sweden was given 45 minutes apiece, with a few minor exceptions. The team travels to Germany next for a week-long training camp, where two further friendlies will be played behind closed doors… Rumours of Bamford's omission began to circulate on Friday night. Saturday's teamsheet confirmed the club's No 9 of the last seven years had been left at home. After 205 appearances, 60 goals, two Championship titles and one England cap, Farke is ready to draw a line under Bamford's time as a Leeds player. The centre-forward has only started 40 of the club's 171 league games since August 2021 and did not start at all in the Championship last term. Advertisement With the arrival of Lukas Nmecha, who has actually played fewer minutes than Bamford over the past four seasons, the continued pursuit of Rodrigo Muniz, Joel Piroe's golden boot and the rise of Harry Gray, the writing was arguably on the wall for Bamford. In his absence, Nmecha and Piroe got the nod on Saturday. The former's biggest battle this season is likely to be with his body, but if he can stay fit, he offers another physical outlet for the team. The Germany international dropped deep to link up play at Strawberry Arena and showed strength when he took the ball down with his chest, defenders at his back. He missed one or two passes in behind for an on-running Wilfried Gnonto, but that will come with more minutes alongside each other. Piroe did, by stark contrast, see and execute those passes. No conclusions can be drawn from this one game about what the coming season holds, but as the Dutchman dropped in, he showed poise, flair and vision in threading passes into space for Daniel James and Largie Ramazani. The through-balls were not perfect, but there was promise in what Piroe was trying to do. Mateo Joseph was the other striker conspicuous by his absence from the matchday squad. Farke was far less definitive with his comments on the Spaniard's future. He seemed to suggest it was Joseph's decision to sit the game out because he did not feel ready after a slightly delayed return to training after Spain under-21 duty. If Leeds do land Muniz, as they hope to, that leaves him, Piroe, Nmecha and Joseph competing for one berth, with Gray hoping to pick up cameos. That's a crowded striker department and the interest in Joseph from Spain has never gone away. As a low-cost arrival, Joseph would generate meaningful profit and sustainability (PSR) headroom if he fetched an eight-figure fee too. However, Leeds insisted he was not for sale when they rejected a loan (with purchase option) offer from Real Betis this week. While Jayden Bogle seemed to pick up where he left off last season, this was a first sight of Gabriel Gudmundsson as United's left-back following his transfer from Lille. As early as the fourth minute, Bogle was getting bums off seats. The right-back darted into an ocean of space on the opponents' left flank and carried the ball into the penalty box. He put in a dangerous cross, but it did not result in anything too troubling for the Manchester outfit. Advertisement Piroe's aforementioned creativity combined with Bogle to create one of United's best chances in the second half. The forward took a lovely touch around pressure and then slid Bogle in down the right channel after a smart run in behind. Evidently, Bogle will need to do a lot more defending next season than last, but this was a refreshing reminder of the damage he can wreak when he raids forward. Gudmundsson's highlight reels suggested he was an aggressive and progressive ball carrier, but we got to see it in Leeds colours on Saturday. The Sweden international lost the ball once or twice, but impressed with his front-foot defending. He was happy to get forward too, underlapping and even joining Piroe in the penalty box on a couple of occasions. The sheer number of midfielders Leeds have been linked with this summer had always suggested Farke may be pivoting to a three-man central unit. Captain Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev came into the summer with hopes of starting regularly next term, but Sean Longstaff has arrived on a package worth up to £15million ($20.1m) and Anton Stach will sign for a fee in excess of £17.3million ($23.2m). In a 4-2-3-1 system, that's three quality players missing out every week. Here, Farke experimented with a 4-3-3, though he tried a back-three in last summer's opener at Harrogate Town and we barely saw it again after that, so don't read too much into it. Ampadu played at the base of the three as the anchor in front of the defence, while Gruev and Tanaka alternated between No 8 and No 10 roles on either side of him. Their main task was to contest the middle of the field, but show a willingness to break into the final third when the front three had possession. Tanaka showed some especially neat synergy with Gnonto as the first-half's right winger. Gruev was keen to join in with attacks, while Ampadu got his hands dirty with Bruno Fernandes in the engine room. Advertisement Longstaff showed some classy touches and patience on the ball, but, again, it's hard to take too much from 45 minutes in a friendly after barely 48 hours with his new team-mates. While Bamford was unequivocally excommunicated on Saturday, the door was left ajar for the man who hadn't played in United colours for more than two years. Not only was Jack Harrison in Sweden, but he was starting on the left flank. A shirt number of 38 for a winger who previously wore 22 and 11 at the club does not scream 'first choice starter on August 16'. If Harrison was definitely going to figure in Farke's plans next season, he surely would have been given a far more considered shirt like those worn by Longstaff (eight), Gudmundsson (three) or Jaka Bijol (15). And yet, his presence in Sweden shows Farke has not consigned him to the same cast-off list as Bamford, Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood et al. Harrison's got another three years on his contract, his wages are significant and his attacking output with Everton did not turn heads. Wherever he ends up at the end of the transfer window, Harrison has at least, as of mid-July, been given an olive branch he may not have expected when he returned for pre-season. All he can do is train to the best of his ability and carry out everything Farke asks for. For now, the manager is citing the examples of Junior Firpo and Brenden Aaronson as out-of-favour Leeds players who have won the crowd back. Whatever your stance on that pair's respective arcs, Farke's describing them that way and mapping out how it's possible for Harrison to reintegrate. Harrison did not catch the eye during his 45 minutes in the Swedish capital. We await the coming friendlies to see how the narrative around him develops. Top photo:
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Patrick Bamford's Leeds career OVER as Daniel Farke reveals brutal axing conversation with ex-England striker
Meanwhile, Leeds are set to sign another player for big money WHAM BAM Patrick Bamford's Leeds career OVER as Daniel Farke reveals brutal axing conversation with ex-England striker Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PATRICK BAMFORD is set to leave Leeds after being told he is not in Daniel Farke's plans. The Leeds boss pulled his striker aside just two days into pre-season training to deliver the bad news. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Patrick Bamford has been told he has no future at Leeds Credit: Getty 2 Bamford was axed in a talk with boss Daniel Farke Credit: Getty Bamford, 31, has been with Leeds for the past seven years, scoring 60 goals, but has been beset with injury issues. Farke handed a first start to new striker Lukas Nmecha in their goalless draw with Manchester United in Stockholm, while Bamford was left at home. Farke said: "I had a really open and honest conversation. "I would have preferred a completely fit Patrick Bamford in the last two seasons. He knows how much I rate him as a person. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL WILL I NEVER Will Ferrell sends crowd wild at Man Utd game as fans spot what's on T-shirt "It was the second day of pre-season when I told him in my office that he wasn't part of my plans for the upcoming Premier League season, due to the fact that he's had really difficult years over the past few years." Leeds have also agreed a £17million deal with German club Hoffenheim for midfielder Anton Stach. Farke's side have been busy in the transfer window so far, splashing out on two new centre-backs in Jaka Bijol and Sebastian Bornauw. Gabriel Gudmundsson was also signed following the exits of Junior Firpo and Rasmus Kristensen. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS And earlier this week, Leeds pulled off a deal for Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff. Meanwhile, SunSport exclusively revealed this month that Leeds are interested in striker Callum Wilson. Leeds United unveil concepts of 53000 capacity Elland Road The veteran is a free agent after leaving Newcastle and is eager to remain in the Premier League. He understands his fitness and injury history could be an issue. And Wilson is hoping to land a pay-as-you-play deal to move to Elland Road.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Patrick Bamford's Leeds career OVER as Daniel Farke reveals brutal axing conversation with ex-England striker
PATRICK BAMFORD is set to leave Leeds after being told he is not in Daniel Farke's plans. The Leeds boss pulled his striker aside just two days into pre-season training to deliver the bad news. 2 2 Bamford, 31, has been with Leeds for the past seven years, scoring 60 goals, but has been beset with injury issues. Farke handed a first start to new striker Lukas Nmecha in their goalless draw with Manchester United in Stockholm, while Bamford was left at home. Farke said: "I had a really open and honest conversation. "I would have preferred a completely fit Patrick Bamford in the last two seasons. He knows how much I rate him as a person. "It was the second day of pre-season when I told him in my office that he wasn't part of my plans for the upcoming Premier League season, due to the fact that he's had really difficult years over the past few years." Leeds have also agreed a £17million deal with German club Hoffenheim for midfielder Anton Stach. Farke's side have been busy in the transfer window so far, splashing out on two new centre-backs in Jaka Bijol and Sebastian Bornauw. Gabriel Gudmundsson was also signed following the exits of Junior Firpo and Rasmus Kristensen. And earlier this week, Leeds pulled off a deal for Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff. Meanwhile, SunSport exclusively revealed this month that Leeds are interested in striker Callum Wilson. The veteran is a free agent after leaving Newcastle and is eager to remain in the Premier League. He understands his fitness and injury history could be an issue. And Wilson is hoping to land a pay-as-you-play deal to move to Elland Road.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Patrick Bamford told he is NOT a part of Leeds' Premier League plans as injury-hit striker is left out of pre-season tour after ‘honest' talks with manager
Daniel Farke has told Patrick Bamford that he isn't part of his Premier League plans for Leeds United this season. Speaking to the press after Leeds drew 0-0 against Man Utd in a pre-season friendly in Stockholm, Farke said: 'With Patrick (Bamford), I had a really open and honest conversation. 'I would have preferred a completely fit Patrick Bamford in the last two seasons. He knows how much I rate him as a person. 'It was the second day of pre-season when I told him in my office that he wasn't part of my plans for the upcoming Premier League season, due to the fact that he's had really difficult years over the past few years.' Bamford signed for Leeds in 2018, winning two promotions with the club but has struggled with injuries over the last few years and failed to score at all last season. 'For me, Patrick is someone who needs to be the main man. If he gets this, he will score goals at every level because he's a top player,' said Farke. 'But after the last few seasons, I wasn't willing to do this and say he was our main man at Premier League level. With the CV he's had at Leeds United, he shouldn't be a back up option. This is not what you should be when you are the main man for so many years,' the Leeds boss added. 'He has trained really professionally and his reaction was top class, as expected. He liked the openness and honesty. Patrick has done so much for this club over the last seven years, winning two promotions. 'He trained with us over the first two weeks but I told him that once we go to the training camp, I will reduce the size of my group so that's why I made this cut right now, 'It was really tough because Patrick knows 100 per cent how much I rate him as a player. To have such a conversation with him, especially when he looked really sharp and highly motivated when he came in. 'Like always, he's an unbelievable professional. There's no one to blame. In the last one and a half years, with not too many appearances or goals, it's unlucky as he had several injuries.' 'I'm pretty sure that he would have preferred if I told him he was the main man. It's never an easy conversation, especially for a player that's done so much for Leeds United. When he sits face-to-face in front of me, it's always difficult but I'd rather have this conversation than send my sporting director. It's the toughest part of the job as a manager. 'I was also pretty grateful because it was so emotional for myself. We've had so many good experiences. Patrick behaved like a gentleman. Yes, he would have wished for something else but his reaction was top-class and I'm grateful for how he reacted.' Leeds now travel to Germany for a pre-season camp, with two fixtures behind closed doors.
