Patrick Bamford signs new five-year Leeds United contract - The Athletic 19/8/21
By Phil Hay
Leeds United have signed Patrick Bamford to a new five-year
contract.
The Athletic reported earlier this year that he had his
contract extended beyond 2022 last summer without Leeds announcing it. But
Leeds always intended to extend it further.
The 27-year-old joined Leeds in July 2018 and has scored 43
goals in his 111 matches for the Elland Road side. After an injury-hit first
season, he played a key role in 2019-20 as Leeds won promotion to the Premier
League as champions.
Bamford then settled into life in the Premier League
quickly. He scored 17 goals in 38 games as Leeds managed a ninth-placed finish
in the top flight.
The striker was also mentioned as a possible option for
England at Euro 2020, but missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate's squad.
Bamford played as Leeds lost 5-1 to Manchester United at the
weekend and is likely to be involved against Everton on Saturday.
How much of a boost is this to Leeds?
It’s true to say that one thing Leeds have successfully
avoided this summer is the loss of any significant players.
Bamford seems very settled here but he wasn’t tied to an
especially long deal and given his form in the Championship and the Premier
League — not to mention his integral place in Marcelo Bielsa’s line-up — this
was a contract the club had to address.
No-one will be happier about the news than Bielsa. He has
supported Bamford resolutely and he described him earlier today as “one of the
best strikers English football has.”
Was there ever a risk he would go elsewhere?
Not really. There were links with Tottenham but Leeds and
Bamford had been speaking for a while and the consistent message coming out of
Elland Road was that a new long-term deal would be put in place.
Bamford is Leeds’ first choice up front by a distance and in
the list of players Bielsa would not want to lose, Bamford would be close to
the top.
Are Leeds looking to tie anyone else to a new deal?
They’ve already done Stuart Dallas, Tyler Roberts and Illan
Meslier this summer and that might be it for the time being.
But Luke Ayling’s deal has less than two years left on it
and the expectation is that on the back of Kalvin Phillips’ performance for England
at the Euros, he’ll be due improved terms at some stage.
Phillips has another three years left — but his form is
enhancing his earning power.
