Patrick Bamford, a long-serving Leeds United striker, is linked with a January move to League One club Wrexham AFC.
Wrexham appear to be looking for more firepower in the winter transfer window, with Phil Parkinson’s team striving for their third consecutive promotion. However, his forward line hasn’t been without its challenges.
Jack Marriott started off brightly, scoring five goals in ten games before breaking his leg, while experienced striker Steven Fletcher has also struggled with injuries and conditioning.
Paul Mullin has struggled to regain his prior prolific scoring form after recovering from a back ailment.
Following Marriott’s injury, Alan Nixon said on Patreon that Wrexham are looking for a striker with Championship experience to enhance their ranks further in January. There are rising doubts about their striking force and if they have enough firepower to gain promotion to the second division.
Wrexham were recently linked with a loan move for Manchester United’s Ethan Wheatley, as well as an unexpected link with Bamford, who has fallen out of favour at Championship promotion contenders Leeds United.
Patrick Bamford’s Leeds wage sparks Wrexham interest.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been more than happy to fund Wrexham in a lavish way, but Bamford’s wage demands may be a step too far if reports are to be believed. Per Capology, Bamford is Leeds’ highest-paid player, just ahead of the likes of Junior Firpo, Pascal Struijk, and Dan James. His estimated weekly wage is £70,000, with other top earners around the £50k-60k mark. The 31-year-old was earning England call-ups off the back of a 17-goal Premier League season haul not long ago, and injuries have since caught up with him; but his wage reflects what was a successful period a couple of years ago.
However, it is unclear how accurate that is following relegation, with Phil Hay of The Athletic reporting in the aftermath of returning to the second tier that “Leeds are protected by significant clauses inserted into every player’s contract, which will see wages fall by a minimum of 50 percent and a maximum of 60 percent” in the event of a divisional drop.
His injuries and lack of a killing eye for goal have frequently let him down in recent years, but his salary was previously reasonable. However, not in the Championship, considering how important his ability to hold the ball and run the channels is while spearheading an assault.
If Hay’s report is to be accepted, the sum could be lower than £70,000, with TEAMtalk reporting that it is closer to £40,000 each week. It is believed that Bamford is paid between £35k and £70k, which is significantly higher than any of Wrexham’s current playing group.
It also makes him a difficult player to trade in order to get his pay off the books, assuming Leeds and the 49ers are willing to do so. According to TEAMtalk, wages were a key stumbling point for the Red Dragons last summer, and this appears to be a trend that will continue unless promotion to the Championship is accomplished.
Patrick Bamford suffers in recent seasons
Bamford has struggled for playing time in recent seasons, with injuries limiting his availability under Daniel Farke. This has sparked conjecture regarding the player’s prospective departure from Elland Road, despite the fact that his contract does not expire until the summer of 2026.
Leeds are unlikely to authorize moves for numerous forwards unless at least one comes in, but Bamford may be permitted to leave the club in January regardless of incomings. His position in the pecking order is clearly no longer what it once was, notwithstanding an amazing few months from January to March during the team’s successful season last year.
He has demonstrated throughout that time that his profile type is maybe the most appropriate for Farke’s method. Joel Piroe is still getting consistent minutes as a starting striker, though, and Mateo Joseph has clearly surpassed him in that regard.
For the first time in his Leeds career, Bamford finds himself in an odd predicament due to his injury problems. Given that the 31-year-old has only appeared in eight of Leeds’ first 21 league games, some sources indicate that his time there is going to come to an end. As a result, he might want to pursue a new challenge at some point.
All eight of those appearances have also come from the bench, with the striker yet to contribute a goal or an assist in the Championship. Not long ago, Football Insider claimed that he is planning to depart Elland Road next summer after growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of game time under Farke.
He fits the bill as an experienced second tier striker, and TEAMtalk now state that Wrexham are set to face competition from Serie A outfit, Genoa, if they are to secure the services of the 31-year-old, although the latter are more likely to be keen on a summer deal.
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