Patrick Bamford's Leeds United snub continues - Portsmouth, Wrexham & Coventry City should consider late moves | OneFootball

Bamford looks to have been frozen out at Elland Road.

The last time Leeds United won promotion to the Premier League, Patrick Bamford was a key player for them in the Championship and also started their opening day 4-3 loss at Liverpool - a game in which he scored.

However, fast-forward to the 2025/26 season, and the one-time England international has been frozen out in West Yorkshire by Daniel Farke. He wasn't in the pre-season plans and was nowhere to be seen on the opening day of the season.

With Leeds opting to start with Joel Piroe leading the line in Monday's victory over Everton, Lukas Nmecha looking bright when coming on and scoring the winner, plus the small matter of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, it looks as if Bamford's days at Elland Road are over, and he will have to, at some point, be on the move.

With that being said, FLW have taken a look at three EFL clubs who may well be looking to make a late move to sign Bamford, ahead of September 1st.

Portsmouth

Leeds will already know a thing or two about Pompey's current striking options, with Colby Bishop scoring the only goal of the game to earn a 1-0 win for John Mousinho's side over the Lilywhites in March.

However, Bishop missed Pompey's final pre-season test against PEC Zwolle and was expected to miss the opening couple of weeks of the Championship season with a calf injury, insinuating that back-up is needed in that department.

Pompey do have a young Aussie striker, Thomas Waddingham, who has potential - as well as targeting young St. Johnstone striker Makenzie Kirk. Despite this, the Blues could do with a bit more cover in that department, with Bamford the ideal man to take the pressure off Bishop and also deputise for the ex-Accrington man in case of injury.

Wages might be an issue, even on loan, but there's no denying you can see the benefit of adding someone of Bamford's experience at Fratton Park.

Wrexham

The Red Dragons have had an excellent window so far - but you'd be a fool for thinking that they are done yet.

The likes of Josh Windass, Ryan Hardie, Kieffer Moore and Nathan Brodhead add an extra attacking threat to the team that is fascinating to see at Championship level, although given Moore and Windass both suffered knocks in their opening two games (albeit Moore's wasn't as serious as first feared) then Phil Parkinson may well want extra cover.

Ollie Palmer, Sam Smith and Jack Marriott all still remain at the football club, so the likelihood is that one of them would have to leave in order for this move to go through, but Bamford brings proven Championship goalscoring experience and was already linked with the Welsh club earlier this window.

It's the type of high-profile signing that the ownership would love to make.

Coventry City

Frank Lampard's side have endured an indifferent start to this campaign.

Touted by many as one of the favourites to go up at the start of the season, the Sky Blues were frustrated by a 0-0 draw with Hull City on the opening day, before goalscoring became no such issue across the Midlands at Pride Park, with a whopping 5-3 win at John Eustace's Derby County.

However, Haji Wright is a player that has sometimes underwhelmed, whilst Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms are other players who have struggled to consistently grab goals at second tier level.

Belgian striker Norman Bassette does appear to be allowed to leave the CBS Arena this summer - although his move to FC Utrecht could now be in doubt after they signed ex-West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller.

Bamford may just be the man to help Cov go from promotion outsiders to serious contenders, with two Championship titles under his belt during his time at Elland Road.