Leeds United diehards deliver damning Patrick Bamford verdict as transfer plan suggested

You could forgive Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt for not feeling in particularly high spirits heading into the festive season. The attacking duo have only played nine times between them for Leeds United in the Championship so far this season.

Forwards Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph have shared the No 9 position, leaving Bamford and Gelhardt out in the cold. Bamford, an unused substitute in their recent home fixtures against Derby County and Middlesbrough, is still waiting to make his first league start. His last Whites goal came back in April.

Given their lack of game time, it is no big shock to see Bamford and Gelhardt continue to be linked with moves away from Elland Road. United are reportedly interested in beefing up their attack next month, with Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Dor Turgeman among the players to be linked in recent weeks.

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And Whites supporters believe the club should look to move Bamford and Gelhardt in the New Year. Almost 1,500 supporters recently took part in a LeedsLive transfer poll and we asked the question which players United should try the most to keep and only seven per cent voted for Bamford, Gelhardt and highly-rated youngster Sam Chambers.

Fifteen per cent went with the 'no one' option and 25 per cent said Max Wober. In the absence of injured full-backs Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo, the Austrian international lined up on the left side of the defence in the midweek home win over promotion rivals Middlesbrough.

Thirty nine per cent of respondents called for United to keep hold of Wales Under-21 international Charlie Crew. There has been a suggestion of Crew and Chambers potentially being loaned out to build up their experience.