With the transfer window now firmly behind them, Leeds United may begin to shift their focus towards contract renewals.
In fact, they’ve already made a significant move in this direction, with Wilfried Gnonto signing a new four-year deal just hours after the window closed.
This marks a remarkable turnaround for Gnonto, who handed in a transfer request 13 months ago. At that time, few would have predicted that he would be the one committing to a second consecutive season in the Championship.
What makes this even more surprising is the fact that Gnonto, unlike Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, and Archie Gray, was a regular starter in Leeds’ last Premier League season.
Now, with Gnonto’s future secured, the club must make decisions about other players whose contracts are nearing their end.
49ers need to avoid a Patrick Bamford mistake at Leeds:
Among those with contracts expiring in the next year or two are Junior Firpo, Sam Byram, Patrick Bamford, Dan James, Illan Meslier, and Karl Darlow.
According to reports, Leeds see the prospect of offering Bamford a contract extension as a ‘priority’, and the striker is reportedly keen on signing new terms.
However, this could be a move Leeds should avoid. Bamford is one of the highest-paid players at Elland Road, yet his performances and fitness have been inconsistent, providing little return on the club’s investment.
Over the past three years, Bamford has struggled to regain his form and maintain his fitness. Aside from a brief spell of good form between January and March last season, he hasn’t delivered consistently since the days of lockdown football.
Not only did Bamford miss the crucial run-in during the 2023/24 promotion campaign, but he has also started this season on the sidelines. Offering him a long-term contract extension when he has repeatedly proven unable to stay fit would be perplexing.
Mateo Joseph has now emerged as Leeds’ first-choice striker, and given his age, he could hold that position for many years to come.
While Joseph will inevitably need support, relying on Bamford—given his injury record—is not the solution. Leeds need a reliable striker to provide Joseph with proper competition, and Bamford’s continued struggles mean he is no longer the right option.
Neil Redfearn says Bamford is now a ‘problem’ at Leeds:
Following Leeds’ victory over Hull City last weekend, former Leeds manager Neil Redfearn weighed in on the Bamford situation.
Redfearn is of the view that Bamford can no longer be relied upon, and that Leeds must find another striker capable of supporting Joseph.
“You need strikers. You can’t rely on Bamford, he’s never fit. That’s a problem. You need a striker equal to Joseph off the bench because there will be times when he runs himself into the ground. Strikers are key,” Redfearn commented.
These remarks further highlight the risk of offering Bamford a new deal at this stage of his career. Leeds would be wise to consider moving on from the striker and investing in fresh talent that can provide the club with consistent performances upfront.