Sheffield United in 'pole position' to sign second Leeds United promotion hero after Patrick Bamford
Another of Leeds United's 2024/25 Championship title-winning squad could be heading to Bramall Lane in January.
Patrick Bamford could soon be reunited with a former Leeds United teammate amid reports of Sheffield United interest in a second 2024/25 Championship title winner.
Joe Rothwell spent just one season at Elland Road, having signed on loan from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, but it was a hugely successful one. The midfielder played a vital role in Leeds’ Championship title-winning campaign, providing a small handful of season-defining assists from central midfield.
Leeds opted against signing Rothwell on a permanent basis following promotion, with recruitment chiefs focused on targeting physicality over technicality, and the midfielder eventually joined Rangers on a three-year deal. But just six months into that stint he could be set for a return to the Championship.
Scottish outlet The Daily Record reports Rothwell could be set to leave Rangers having fallen out of favour under new manager Danny Rohl, with Sheffield United in ‘pole position’ to sign the 30-year-old. Bramall Lane chiefs are said to be ‘confident’ of getting a deal done in January, although it’s unclear whether it would be a loan or permanent move.
Rothwell’s Championship experience is seen to be a key factor in Sheffield United’s pursuit, with the South Yorkshire side slowly climbing up the table following a dismal start to the season. The midfielder has been part of two promotion-winning squads in the past two years, having been on loan at Southampton before joining Leeds.
Rothwell is fondly remembered in West Yorkshire, thanks in part to the role he played in some season-defining matches. He famously came off the bench to twice set up Pascal Struijk when Leeds came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 late on at home to Sunderland in February.
Leeds United reunion at Bramall Lane
A move to Bramall Lane would see Rothwell reunite with a former Elland Road teammate in Bamford. The striker joined Sheffield United on a short-term deal in November, having spent almost three months without a club after leaving Leeds ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Bamford had been informed he was not in Daniel Farke’s Premier League plans and did not feature in first-team pre-season. He was linked with Getafe in Spain and came close to joining Coventry City after a spell training with the Championship leaders, eventually deciding on a short journey down the M1 to the Steel City.
His initial contract at Bramall Lane is due to expire in January but head coach Wilder has made no secret of his desire to keep the 32-year-old. Those chances have been helped by the scoring of two goals in six appearances from the two-time Leeds promotion hero.
"They've been outstanding [Bamford and Jairo Riedewald], I've been delighted with the contribution of both of the guys,” Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield earlier this month. “I personally don't want to lose both of them, so it's up to us to find a common ground in terms of [contract] length and obviously the details of the contract.
"I don't want to lose these guys in January but, unfortunately, that might be the case if someone comes over the top of us and blows us out of the water. But we're confident we can get a deal done with both the guys and their immediate and medium-term future is with us."