‘Farke decides Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe’s fate as Leeds make Muniz decision’
Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe are facing an uncertain future with Leeds United as they prepare for life in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s side scored a staggering 95 goals in the EFL Championship last term as they claimed the second tier title.
However with life in the top flight waiting for them, the focus will be on adding firepower to their squad to ensure that they can avoid the drop.
Piroe was the Championship’s top scorer with 19 goals and seven assists last term, while Bamford has already showed what he can do in the Premier League with a 17-goal haul in 2020/21.
Despite that, Leeds have their sights set on an upgrade with the Whites readying a bid to sign Rodrigo Muniz from Fulham, as revealed by Football Insider.
Farke wants to sharpen his attacking options
Football Insider revealed last month (6 May) that Leeds will not build their attack around Championship top scorer Joel Piroe next term.
Writing for The Athletic (June 12), Leeds United reporter Beren Cross supported that claim, saying: “If survival is decided in both boxes, that also means a first-rate striker will be targeted this summer.
“Joel Piroe could not have done much more to prove himself after last season’s Golden Boot and 32 goals in 88 league appearances for United.
However, while Farke will give him the chance he has earned in the Premier League, survival cannot be staked on a striker with zero experience at that level.
“Neither can it be put on the shoulders of Patrick Bamford after nearly four years of inconsistent game time.”
Writing specifically about Muniz, Cross added: “Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz, who has averaged a goal every 150 minutes in the Premier League over the past two seasons, is one striker Leeds have made enquiries about.
“Club sources, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, have acknowledged the Muniz interest, but feel other strikers on their shortlist are more likely to be recruited at this stage.”
| Rodrigo Muniz stats | All competitions 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 36 |
| Goals | 11 |
| Assists | 2 |
Bamford must move on for the sake of his career
Bamford may fancy one last crack at the Premier League, but he should be focused on reigniting his career elsewhere.
It’s been four years since the striker was classed as a first-team regular with the Chelsea academy graduate struggling for form and fitness in that time.
With a new striker and Joel Piroe ahead of him, Bamford could be the third-choice striker at Elland Road this term – a role that is surely beneath a player of such quality.
But on a lucrative contract that has a year left to run, it means that a permanent exit is unlikely to come unless he takes a sizable pay cut.
Bamford turns 32 in September and must surely be thinking about moving on to become a first team star elsewhere – particularly given the interest of Wrexham in his services.
However it feels increasingly likely that he will see out his contract and assess his options again next summer.
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