Coventry City backed to strike deal for ex-Leeds star - but 'he screams a Sheffield United signing to me' | OneFootball

FLW's Coventry City fan pundit has given his verdict on Patrick Bamford training with the first team squad

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Patrick Bamford has been seen training with Coventry City this week as he looks to build his fitness in order to find a new club.

It was reported by Mike McGrath earlier this week that the 32-year-old has been working with the Sky Blues, as he remains without a team.

The striker departed Leeds United in the summer following the expiration of his contract and their promotion to the Premier League.

Injuries have hampered Bamford in recent years, as he made just 17 appearances in the league last season, all of which came as a substitute.

However, he has twice helped the Whites gain promotion to the Premier League, and has been a part of multiple sides that reached the play-offs in his career.

Patrick Bamford is what Coventry need

When asked about the possibility of Bamford signing, FLW’s Coventry fan pundit Chris Deez claimed he’s exactly what the team need at the moment to provide extra cover in attack for Haji Wright.

He believes the 32-year-old would be a great option to have from the bench, and that his experience being added to the dressing room could be a huge factor in their promotion push.

“I was really pleased to see that we were linked with Bamford when the news popped up [Friday] that was seen at our training ground,” Deez told Football League World.

“Obviously he’s had a torrid time of it injury-wise, but he’s not a player that we need but a player that I certainly wouldn’t say no to.

“I’ve been very vocal about our lack of squad depth, and the fact we didn’t do nearly enough in the summer transfer window to strengthen every position, and to make sure we had at least two or three options in every position.

“As much as Ellis Simms has come good in the last few weeks, the last few games and he’s chipped in with a couple of assists, scored an easy goal or two, Bamford is proven Championship quality.

“He’s helped teams to get promoted, he’d be a hell of an option to have off the bench, I would love him to be our number two striker, our main backup to Haji Wright for if he gets injured.

“He’s always going away on international duty with the USA now and, other than the most recent time he went away with them, he does tend to come back injured or slower or, I don’t know, maybe it’s jet leg.”

Deez has highlighted concerns over his potential wages as a stumbling block to signing the forward, while also suggesting he is likely to have a lot of suitors from the Championship that Coventry would have to compete with to sign him.

“Obviously wages could be a big stumbling block, our highest earner is around the £30,000-a-week mark and I can’t imagine Bamford was on that low,” he added.

“I would imagine even on a Leeds team where he wasn’t playing and was injured all the time, he was surely still earning anywhere between £50 and 70,000.

“So, if he’s happy to take that big pay cut or maybe even a pay-as-you-play deal then I’d be all for it.

“But I think that there’s going to be plenty of teams in the Championship who would look at him, who need goals.

“Any team that’s around the bottom of the table, he screams a Sheffield United signing to me.

“But the likes of Derby, Oxford, even teams like Southampton could use somebody like him at the minute.

“It wouldn’t be the end of the world if we don’t sign him, but I’m absolutely all for it.”

It has been reported by Coventry Live that Bamford is currently training with the team due to his connection to Frank Lampard, with the pair previously being teammates at Chelsea.

It’s understood that the Sky Blues are not currently planning a contract offer to the 32-year-old.

Patrick Bamford addition could make sense for Coventry

Bamford signing for Coventry might not immediately be on the cards, but his arrival as part of the squad could still make some sense.

Adding that extra cover in attack could really help with the team’s promotion push, if even just for the leadership qualities he’ll add to the squad.

A short-term contract to the end of the campaign could help the 32-year-old show what he can still do at this level, while boosting Lampard’s squad in their fight for a top two spot.