"Look no further than Luke Ayling" - Potential Patrick Bamford, Leeds United exit debated | OneFootball

Football League World asked our Leeds fan pundit, Kris Smith, if he thought Patrick Bamford will leave in January

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has been a good servant to the Whites over the years since joining from Middlesbrough in 2018, and was particularly effective during the 2020/21 Premier League season, in which he scored 17 goals in 38 top-flight outings.

But since then, the 31-year-old has struggled in the final third, and scored just four goals as the Whites were relegated from the Premier League following a tough 2022/23 season.

Last season he scored just eight goals in 33 Championship appearances, and has fallen down Daniel Farke's pecking order behind the likes of former Swansea City hot-shot Joel Piroe and young Spaniard Mateo Joseph.

Prior to the summer transfer window, the Mail Online had reported that the Whites were looking to move Bamford on, but such an eventuality did not occur.

However, during the early exchanges of the season, the forward has endured a lack of game time, which suggests a January exit may be on the cards.

In fact, while the Championship campaign is 12 games old, Bamford has made just five appearances, and is yet to make a single start for Farke's men in the league this term.

Luke Ayling comparison made on Bamford situation

Football League World asked our Leeds fan pundit, Kris Smith, if he thought Bamford will leave in January, and he said: "We're not really in a position, Leeds, at the moment where we can afford to definitely make decisions on letting forwards go in the January window, so I wouldn't be dead set on sanctioning an exit for Bamford, even if there's reports saying that he might want to leave, or that he's linked with moves away.

"But that said, if Leeds do consider a new signing to take the pressure off a very young Mateo Joseph, and an inconsistent Joel Piroe, then it would open the door to letting Bamford go.

"I do think that Leeds should be looking at a loan signing in the January window to maybe chip in with around, maybe five goals in the second half of the season, just as Ipswich did last season with Ali Al Hamadi and Kieffer Moore, they got them the goals that got them over the line, and if we did that with a new signing, it would give you the chance to shift Bamford on.

"It's fair to say that his best years are behind him, and a move would be the best thing for Bamford to kick on in the closing stage of his career.

"He should look no further than Luke Ayling really, who's been given a new lease of life at Middlesbrough.

"He's taken the captain's armband, he looks a brilliant defender there.

"He was finished at Leeds, really, and I think Bamford will see that as inspiration."

After making just 14 Championship appearances for the Whites during the first half of last season, Ayling joined Boro on loan back in January, where he excelled as he produced eight assists in 19 league outings.

The versatile full-back signed for Boro permanently over the summer, while a brief substitute appearance during Sunday's dramatic 3-3 draw at Norwich City means he has now appeared in all 12 of their Championship fixtures this term, making 11 starts.

A move away from Leeds could help Bamford

As alluded to by Kris, a move away from Elland Road could help Bamford get his career back on track, in a similar way to that of Ayling, and out of the shadows of the likes of Piroe and Joseph.

However, amid a long Championship season certain to be full of twists and turns, Whites boss Farke could still view the former Chelsea man as a good squad option, unless the club can sign a new forward in January, as recommended by Kris.

But from Bamford's point of view, leaving the Whites in January could be an ideal scenario as he searches for regular playing time during the latter years of his career.