"Regardless of his ability" - QPR urged to stay well clear of transfer for £70k-a-week outcast | OneFootball

Bamford will be made available for a move away from Elland Road this summer.

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 is set to be made available for a move by Leeds United this summer, which could interest a number of Championship teams.

The striker hasn't been the firing version of himself that we saw right after Leeds' last promotion to the Premier League, and, as a result, he is "not part" of Daniel Farke's plans going forward.

Effective strikers have always been tough to find, but even more so in the current footballing climate. Queens Park Rangers haven't had a player hit double-digit goals in the Championship since the 2021/22 campaign, when Andre Gray netted 10 in 28 appearances.

Bamford's overall record as a goalscorer is not a bad one, but, even with the possibility of Charlie Kelman, who scored 21 goals in League One on loan at Leyton Orient last season, leaving the club this summer, Football League World's Hoops fan pundit Louis Moir believes that the remaining option could be better than bringing in the unwanted Leeds talisman.

QPR told to steer clear of potential Patrick Bamford deal

QPR have rejected an offer from Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC for Kelman. He represents the US but is yet to make his debut for the country's men's team.

"I don't think Patrick Bamford's a realistic signing for us and even if he was, I don't think it's something we should be considering," said Moir.

"You look at him and think 'Well, maybe that is someone you couldn't really say no to because of his experience in the Championship', and obviously he has shown he can score a few goals in this league, but I personally have never rated him that highly at all.

"Obviously, when he was younger he had a really good few spells where he had, you know, he was showing big potential. He has done okay for Leeds, but has fallen out of favour there for a while now.

"He's not getting any younger, 31. You know, if Celar hits the ground running and does what he's been doing abroad, you know, showing that he's a natural goalscorer, I don't think someone like Patrick Bamford would be an upgrade on the likes of him and even Frey, to be honest.

"Hopefully we do sign at least one more striker before this window shuts. But Patrick Bamford, not for me. Regardless of his ability, I think we should be looking at a different profile of striker anyway.

"Someone who's a bit more pacey, can maybe play off a Michael Frey, a striker, or make runs in behind. A different sort of profile of striker that would sort of fit the model we're looking at.

"That's something we've been missing for a good few years. And, like I said, Patrick Bamford, I don't personally rate him. I never have done that much, and I don't think that would ever be a name that we would look at as a realistic option.

"You'd probably end up maybe seeing him at another Championship club and potentially at a club in the Championship who might be willing to take a punt on him in the hope that he could be that main goalscorer for him in this league.

"But for us, no. [It's] not realistic and wouldn't fit the sort of model we're sort of running with at the moment."

QPR don't need to risk so much on Patrick Bamford bet

If Julien Stephan did want to take a gamble on Bamford, QPR would probably need to sanction the exit of one of their centre-forwards, likely Kelman, before doing so, in part because they wouldn't want an overload of strikers, but also because they would probably have to buy the 31-year-old.

They could, in theory, try to work with Leeds to find some sort of resolution to his contract situation that would allow him to move to Loftus Road without the need for a transfer fee, but even that would still be a fairly expensive move for the R's. Bamford is estimated by Capology to be on £70,000 per week at Elland Road.

It's hard to pin your hopes on the options that Stephan currently has to pick from at the number nine spot, but the Leeds man isn't exactly a guaranteed move either.

Injuries have massively hampered his career in recent seasons. There's little evidence to suggest that, in his 30s, this situation will improve. It's a risk that's not worth taking for QPR.