It has been a slow start to the season for Leeds United’s new number nine, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The former Everton striker joined the club on a free transfer in the summer, after his contract on Merseyside expired.
The 28-year-old England international has been an important part of Daniel Farke’s side since his summer move to Elland Road, featuring in six games so far, starting the last four in the Premier League.
However, he’s only managed to bag one goal, with his strike coming against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 3-1 win at Molineux last month.
Farke will be hoping Calvert-Lewin can be a better option up front than Patrick Bamford was towards the end of his Leeds career.
Bamford's rocky time under Farke
For several years, former England international Bamford was the first-choice centre-forward at Elland Road. He notched up 205 appearances for the club, scoring 60 times and assisting a further 25 goals. He was a favourite disciple of the great Marcelo Bielsa. Sadly, all good things must come to an end.
His time at Leeds ended this summer, with the club agreeing to terminate his deal by mutual consent. His final two seasons at Elland Road were spent under the tutelage of Farke, although it wasn’t an easy couple of years.
In total, Bamford played 54 times under the German, bagging nine goals and setting two up. The 2023/24 campaign was more than respectable, with the Grantham-born striker netting eight goals in 33 Championship matches.
It was the following term that proved to be problematic for Bamford. He couldn’t get into the side under Farke, and played just 17 games in the Championship, hindered further by a 14-game injury issue.
He didn’t score that campaign, and was later told by the Leeds boss that he is “not in my plans” for 2025/26. Thus, his deal was terminated.
Calvert-Lewin could certainly be seen as the new Bamford, given he is, in essence, a direct replacement.
Yet, there is another Leeds star who could be considered Farke’s new version of the England striker.
Leeds star in danger of being the new Bamford
Things certainly ended in a disappointing way for the Chelsea academy graduate, with the Leeds boss up front about the fact he would have no role to play in the Premier League this season.
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Well, just as Bamford struggled to get game time last season, another Leeds striker could be headed down a similar path.
It has been a tough campaign so far for Dutch striker Joel Piroe. The former Swansea City star has previously shone under Farke, making 97 appearances under the German, to great success, too.
In that time, the 26-year-old scored 33 goals and assisted a further ten. His Championship form was impressive, racking up 13 league goals in 2023/24, and 19 last term as the Whites won the title.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the boss hailed him as “the best finisher” he’s ever worked with only a few weeks ago.
The underlying stats from those two years, showed just how well he has done at Elland Road so far.
For example, two seasons ago, Piroe had a 22.22% conversion rate, and last term, he averaged 0.6 goals per game, an example of why former Swansea boss Russell Martin called him “clinical.”
Goals
0.5
0.6
Conversion rate
22.22%
26.76%
Chances created
1.2
1.1
Duels won
2.8
2.3
Ball recoveries
3.7
2.7
This term has been a completely different story for the Dutchman. The arrivals of Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha have greatly restricted Prioe’s opportunities, and he’s only played three Premier League games, racking up 147 minutes.
It is easy to see how this situation compares to Bamford’s last season. The former Leeds striker had few opportunities to stake a claim under Farke, and the start to 2025/26 has been similar for Piroe.
He will be hoping that the opportunity arises in the coming weeks. The stats are certainly on his side, with the former PSV Eindhoven striker putting up some good numbers over the last couple of years with the German in charge.
If this continues, Piroe is certainly in danger of becoming the new Bamford at Elland Road.
