Frank Lampard’s plans for allowing Patrick Bamford to train at high-flying Coventry City have now been explained. The England international was spotted at the club's training ground after being released by Premier League side Leeds United in the summer, fuelling speculation that the striker could earn a contract with the Championship leaders.
Bamford departed Leeds after being deemed surplus to requirements
Bamford ended his seven-year association with Leeds in August after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Daniel Farke. After joining the Whites in 2018 from Middlesbrough, the 32-year-old scored 60 goals in 205 appearances for the club, helping them earn two promotions to the Premier League. After emerging as a key figure for Leeds under former boss Marcelo Bielsa, Bamford was called up to the England senior squad in 2021, earning his first and only cap in the 4-0 victory over Andorra in September of that year.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhites boss Farke held 'open and honest' conversation with Bamford
Confirming Bamford was not part of his plans for the 2025-26 season, Farke said in July: "I had a really open and honest conversation with Patrick, which was important. He knows how much I rate him as a player and I would have preferred a fit Patrick Bamford for the last two seasons.
"But he is a player who needs to be the main man. He needs an arm round the shoulder after some difficult seasons. I was not willing to tell him he was the main man at Premier League level.
"In the second day of pre-season, I got him into my office and told him he is not in my plans for the upcoming season.
"It would have been easy for me to hide behind the sporting director or wait until we got someone else in, but he has done so much for this club, he deserves respect and transparency.”
Report claims Bamford was spotted training at Coventry on Friday
After initially being linked with a move to La Liga side Getafe which failed to materialise, Bamford’s hopes of finding a new club looked to have received a boost on Friday. According to the former Chelsea forward was spotted training with Coventry ahead of their clash with Watford on Saturday.
Getty Images SportCoventry boss Lampard not looking to strengthen attacking options
However, a new report in has since clarified that manager Lampard is simply allowing his former Chelsea team-mate to train at the club, and is not looking to bolster his attacking options. After joining Chelsea in 2012, Bamford only briefly rubbed shoulders with Lampard, embarking on a series of loan spells with the likes of Milton Keynes Dons, Derby County and Middlesbrough. During the same period, Lampard – Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals in all competitions – spent two more years at Stamford Bridge before ending his legendary spell at the club by joining Manchester City in 2014. After joining from West Ham in 2001, Lampard spent 13 years in total at Chelsea, lifting 11 major honours.