The former Leeds striker made the comments in response to Bamford’s recent remarks about his future.
The former Chelsea and Nottingham Forest striker has said to The Yorkshire Evening Post that he plans to stay at Elland Road for five more years.
Whelan, now works as a pundit for BBC Radio Leeds, has dismissed the 26-year-old’s plan.
Whelan told Football Insider: “To say five years in a football environment is ridiculous. Most people do not stay at a football club these days longer than three.
“I do not think Patrick should look any further than this coming season. Finish this one-off and he has earned the right to start the next one even if we are in the Premier League. “
He knows he needs to improve his goalscoring but his work rate has been exceptional. It has been invaluable.
“If they go up Leeds will be looking to strengthen and he will have to up his game because he is going to have competition.
“Five years ahead? You cannot do that. No one knows what is happening next season. One year is long in a football environment.”
Stats
Bamford has been on the books of Leeds since the summer of 2018 when he joined from Middlesbrough for a transfer fee reported by Sky Sports to be worth £7 million.
According to WhoScored, the striker made 16 starts and seven substitute appearances in the Championship for the Whites last season, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in the process.
So far this season, the Englishman has made 35 starts and one substitute appearance in the league for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, scoring 13 goals and providing two assists in the process, according to WhoScored.
Leeds are at the top of the Championship table at the moment and are aiming to clinch automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Football in England is suspended at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
