Sheffield United give stance on former Leeds United star Patrick Bamford's future
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has revealed what the state of play is regarding Patrick Bamford’s future at Bramall Lane.
Former Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford’s short-term deal at Sheffield United is set to expire next month and boss Chris Wilder was hopeful that discussions over extending it would not be drawn out.
Bamford signed for the South Yorkshire outfit after finding himself as a free agent when Leeds and boss Daniel Farke decided it was time for his seven-year association with the club to come to an end.
After helping the Whites win automatic promotion to the Premier League, the 32-year-old finds himself back in the Championship for the Blades, who he has helped regain some form after a torrid start to the season. The experienced striker has done well and already scored two goals since signing last month.
Now discussions are underway with the club and his camp to see if an agreement can be made to keep the former Chelsea forward at the club for the remainder of the season, which would be a big boost for Wilder.
“Yeah, he's in discussions and it’s between agent and club,” Wilder said. “I didn't think Pat had one of his better games [last time out against West Brom]. I think, looking at that, it maybe just caught up with him a little bit.
“Sometimes that can happen, when you come in having not played any football and all of a sudden play the minutes that he plays. So maybe that's my mistake. He was a little bit lacklustre, a little bit off of it, like they all were for one reason or the other. Mentally or physically.
“But Pat's enjoying his time here, so that'll take its due course. Clearly, it’s out of my hands now. It's with Pat, Pat's agent, and us as a football club. But speaking to Pat on a daily basis, regularly, he's enjoying his football. He's expressed a wish to extend.
“But as you know, agents who want to get the best deal will still look in the market as well and maybe give him some options for what he has going into January. We have to accept that from our part, because we offered him a deal to January. So hopefully that gets extended.”
Wilder ‘delighted’ with the prospect of extending Bamford’s stay
Wilder also went into more detail about the work the club are putting in and when discussions are going to take place between the two parties.
“We're hoping to have discussions in the next 10 days, leading up to January,” Wilder added. “There has got to be a decision, and I don't think it will be a drawn-out affair if the discussions are going on now, in and around what the numbers look like and what the deal looks like.
“It might need tweaking. It might get accepted, it might get rejected. It might be somebody who comes in from afar, who offers Pat something that's a little bit more to his liking. But we're in the frame, which I'm delighted to be in.”
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