Is Patrick Bamford a more attractive proposition than Matej Vydra for Leeds?

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Leeds United ongoing attempts to bring in a striker look to be coming to a close with a deal for Patrick Bamford seemingly close, having overtaken Matej Vydra as the leading candidate in the past 24 hours.

A £7 million fee has reportedly been agreed with Middlesbrough for Bamford, according to the Daily Mail, whilst the club have also been linked with an £11 million move for Vydra by the likes of The Sun.

However, the two strikers have very different profiles and are vastly different players, so just who is the better option?

In Bamford, the club may feel that the gamble is smaller. At a lower fee and likely to be on lower wages, the Middlesbrough man will not involve such a big investment. Despite that, he lacks the consistency and experience of Vydra, two years his senior.

“I know in the last few seasons, a lot of people have probably written me off a bit but I always knew that if I played regular games, then I would score goals, especially if I got the chance to play up front. I knew that when I got a run, I’d be okay, and when I score one, it generally sets me off on a run where I score a few. Hopefully, I can keep that going.”

Bamford discussed his form in March.

Vydra also may be able to offer a more versatile option, given that he is a fox in the box but also capable of operating as a stronger target man, something that Bamford has struggled with in the past as he prefers to run onto the ball. Where both excel is poaching chances in the box, the key for Bielsa, but there are other differences too.

What may prove to be fundamental is that the Whites could feel more confident on making a profit on Bamford if he succeeds with his youth giving him an edge in this regard. He clearly has potential given his track record, but in recent years he has struggled to live up to it.

Whereas Vydra has had quiet seasons mixed with prolific ones, Bamford is yet to reach the heights that he once hit for Middlesbrough in his first spell at Riverside.

Vydra could be the more impressive and convincing addition to fans, but long-term Bamford could be a wiser choice. That said, despite the finances, on paper it looks as though the former Chelsea youngster is a bigger risk than Vydra.