Patrick Bamford shares what Victor Orta told him before completing Leeds transfer

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Leeds United today confirmed the signing of Patrick Bamford from Middlesbrough.

Leeds United’s new signing Patrick Bamford has told the club’s official website that Victor Orta sold the club to him as he makes his move from Middlesbrough.

The Whites had already tied up the signings of Jamal Blackman, Barry Douglas, Lewis Baker and Jack Harrison, with three of them loan deals as fans wanted a big statement of intent in attack.

A move for Derby County’s Matej Vydra fell apart, and Leeds moved quickly to turn their attentions to Bamford, with a £7million deal struck for his signature according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Bamford, 24, arrives at Elland Road having hit 11 goals in 41 games for Boro last season, and should lead the line for Leeds this season – potentially start with the opening day clash against Stoke City.

Bamford hasn’t quite lived up to the potential which saw him become a young star with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, but he is a more than serviceable Championship striker, with Leeds director of football Victor Orta signing him for a second time.

Orta was in charge of Middlesbrough’s transfers when he swooped to land Bamford from Chelsea in January 2017, and the pair have now reunited.

Now, Bamford has told the club’s official website that he spoke with Orta before making the move, and the Spaniard sold the move to him on the basis of the project at Elland Road, explaining the philosophy under new manager Marcelo Bielsa – and that tempted Bamford into the move.

“I could see the project,” said Bamford. “Obviously, I knew Victor Orta from his time at Middlesbrough as well and I spoke to him and he explained the philosophy and idea behind bringing the new manager in and the kind of football and what they wanted to achieve.”

“That just sold it to me straight away, as well as it being the massive club it is, I know that’s very cliched these days, everyone says that but it’s true. So that along with the project, I was easily convinced,” he added.