Patrick Bamford has played a fairly big role in helping Leeds United to the brink of Premier League promotion.
The 26-year-old has started 41 of the Whites’ 43 Championship games so far this season, scoring 16 times.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is evidently a huge fan of Bamford, having only started Eddie Nketiah – in Arsenal’s first XI on a regular basis since January – once between August and December.
It would be heartbreaking for Bielsa if he has to abandon his loyalty to the former Middlesbrough hitman and sign a better striker for next season if when United are back in the Premier League, but that might well be what Victor Orta demands.
Tammy Abraham, Che Adams and Dwight Gayle scored 70 Championship goals between them last season. In the Premier League this season, they have a combined 18 – and Abraham has 14 of them.
Point is, the Premier League is a massive step-up in class for strikers and if Bamford is only a decent goalscorer at this level, which he is, then Leeds just can’t expect him to lead their line next year.
Yes, he has other elements that make him so popular with Bielsa, but the Elland Road club need a prolific goalscorer on their long-awaited return to the big time and if Bamford isn’t prolific in the Championship, logically he could struggle in a big, big way against top-flight defenders.
It would break Bielsa’s heart if he has to demote Bamford and use him sparingly, but Orta, their Director of Football, will know it’s probably necessary.
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