Patrick Bamford departed Leeds United in acrimonious fashion over the summer following the termination of his contract, but the striker has since enjoyed a revival under Chris Wilder at Sheffield United.
The 32-year-old joined the Championship side on a short-term deal in November and has made an immediate impact at Bramall Lane, scoring five goals in 10 league outings.
Wilder has been keen to secure Bamford on a longer-term contract, and Sheffield United are understood to be in discussions with his representatives. However, no agreement has been finalised ahead of his current deal expiring after today’s FA Cup tie against Mansfield Town.
Bamford’s return to form has not gone unnoticed, with interest emerging from other promotion-chasing Championship clubs, raising the possibility that his stay at Bramall Lane could yet prove short-lived.
Chris Wilder insists Patrick Bamford wants to stay at Sheffield United
Wilder has been pushing to convince Bamford to stay at Bramall Lane, and he is not growing tired of talking about the former Leeds striker.
The Sheffield United boss conceded that the FA Cup game today could be the last game for Bamford in Sheffield United colours, and admitted that he is not part of the negotiations between the club and the player.
He insisted that he wants Bamford to stay, and the striker is also keen to stay. However, he understands that his agents are trying to get the best deal for him amid interest from other clubs such as Ipswich Town.
Wilder told The Sheffield Star: “I don’t need to talk about Pat in terms of the player and the profile of the player and what he’s done for us,” said Wilder this afternoon, ahead of the Mansfield cup clash, which could still represent Bamford’s Bramall Lane farewell.
“I’m out of it at the moment, and that isn’t me washing my hands of it. I’ve said what we need to do with the player, but the club are in negotiations with the representatives of Pat.
“I’m being consistent in terms of what I’ve said regarding Pat, that I think there’s an enthusiasm for him to play with this football club and to be a Sheffield United player, whether it’s to the end of the season or whether it’s a little bit longer.
“It’s ongoing, we’d all like to get it wrapped up. I think maybe the two biggest actors in this little movie are me and Pat. He wants it done, and I want it done, but the club needs to get the right deal. Pat’s representatives need to get the right deal. But fingers crossed, we can edge that forward as we speak.”
The former Leeds striker should stay at Sheffield United
Some Leeds supporters have floated the idea of the club re-signing Patrick Bamford in January to address their need for another striker, but such a move appears highly improbable given that Daniel Farke was unwilling to keep him in the first place.
Bamford is back in demand after rediscovering both fitness and form at Sheffield United, with several Championship sides monitoring his situation ahead of his contract expiry.
| 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, the former Leeds forward would be best served staying at Bramall Lane and continuing his work under Chris Wilder, who has successfully brought the best out of him this season.
Settled, fit and playing with confidence, Bamford has little incentive to change clubs at this stage of his career, where stability is likely to be as important as minutes on the pitch.
