Leeds’ 5 Bielsa favourites back together again as Patrick Bamford shares new image
Patrick Bamford and four other favourite members of Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion-winning team have kept their Leeds United connection alive.
Daniel Farke is preparing to navigate Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League two years on from their relegation in 2023, and will be hoping to emulate the ninth-place finish recorded by Bielsa‘s side.
Leeds won 59 points in the 2020–21 campaign after 16 years outside the top-flight, but Farke is set for a much more challenging season ahead as Leeds’ frustrations in the summer transfer market continue.
The Whites have already missed out on several attacking targets with Lukas Nmecha’s free transfer from Wolfsburg their only new signing so far in the final third, leaving Farke with a dearth of strikers ahead of his side’s opener against Everton.
Bamford shares ‘beautiful’ message as Leeds exit lined up
Nmecha‘s arrival has hardly strengthened Leeds’ striking ranks given two of last season’s strikers are no longer in Farke’s plans, with Mateo Joseph loaned out to Mallorca and Bamford also set for an exit.
Farke’s bombshell news that Bamford was surplus to requirements has heightened Leeds’ need for a striker, but the 31-year-old wasn’t letting speculation affect him as he met up with his old team-mates.
For now the only remaining member of the group still at Leeds Bamford shared on his Instagram story a photo from wife Michaela alongside four of his former teammates.
Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas, and Luke Ayling and their partners were all present as the five Elland Road legends celebrated Phillips’ partner’s pregnancy on Tuesday.
Phillips has been tipped to swap places with Bamford and make a move back to Elland Road this summer after falling out of favour himself at Manchester City, but Leeds see this as a long way off.
The exit-linked forward shared his own partner’s story, which was captioned with: “A beautiful day filled with love”.
Leeds line up Bamford alternative amid transfer stance
Football Insider Verdict
Farke’s inability to find a new striker this summer could imply that Bamford’s time in LS11 isn’t quite done yet, but he still finds himself behind Nmecha, Joel Piroe and Harry Gray in the pecking order.
Bamford’s injuries and patchy form has hampered his ability to maintain his place in Farke’s side, but Leeds agreeing a deal with Dominic Calvert-Lewin will certainly have raised his and others’ eyebrows.
Calvert-Lewin was previously deemed too expensive after his departure from Everton this summer, but if he can have a similar impact as Bamford did in Leeds’ 2020–21 campaign, Farke will see the 28-year-old as worth every penny.