Patrick Bamford left Leeds United under tense circumstances in the summer after his contract was brought to an end, but the striker has since rediscovered his form under Chris Wilder at Sheffield United.
The 32-year-old signed a short-term deal with the Championship side in November and has quickly made his mark at Bramall Lane, netting five goals in 10 league appearances.
Wilder has been eager to tie Bamford down to a longer contract, with Sheffield United understood to be in talks with his representatives. However, no agreement has been reached ahead of his current deal expiring between Sunday’s FA Cup clash and next weekend’s Championship game against Charlton Athletic.
Bamford’s resurgence has not gone unnoticed, with several promotion-chasing Championship clubs now showing interest, leaving open the possibility that his spell at Bramall Lane may yet be a brief one.
Chris Wilder drops Patrick Bamford update
Bamford is close to finalising a contract extension with Sheffield United, and his representatives are in advanced talks with the Championship club.
The Sheffield United boss has been pleading with both sides to finalise the deal, and it seems he has received some good news on that front.
Wilder insisted that Bamford has seamlessly fitted into what he wants from a number 9 and he is happy that the club agree with his position.
He indicated that Sheffield United are on the verge of finalising a deal for Bamford to stay at the club beyond the end of his current deal.
Wilder told The Sheffield Star: “I made no secret of my desire to get in a ‘number 9’, and Patrick has fitted the bill seamlessly since he came in.
“I’m delighted that everyone sees that this is a perfect fit. It has been evident the effect Patrick has had since November, and there’s more to come from him.
“He is a really important figure, on and off the pitch, like Jairo Riedewald, and I thank everyone involved – specifically the owners and Stephen Bettis – in helping get this deal over the line at a very important time for the football club.”
Bamford staying at Sheffield United makes sense
Some Leeds supporters have suggested a January return for Patrick Bamford to help ease the club’s shortage of attacking options, but such a move looks highly unlikely given that Daniel Farke chose not to retain him in the first place.
Bamford once again attracted interest after regaining both fitness and form at Sheffield United. Several Championship clubs were keen on him.
| Statistic | Per 90 | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Non-penalty goals | 0.75 | 96 |
| npxG (Non-penalty xG) | 0.64 | 96 |
| Shots total | 3.28 | 88 |
| Assists | 0.00 | 6 |
| xAG (Expected assisted goals) | 0.22 | 96 |
| npxG + xAG | 0.86 | 98 |
| Shot-creating actions | 2.53 | 75 |
However, it seems he is set to stay at Sheffield United, and the former Leeds striker has made the best decision, as it made no sense for him to leave Bramall Lane.
Comfortable, confident and fully fit, Bamford has little reason to seek another move at this stage of his career, where stability may prove just as valuable as regular minutes on the pitch.
