Graham Smyth: No demands made for Leeds United to sign striker in final week of January
Graham Smyth has shared that Marcelo Bielsa had made no demands for Leeds United to sign a new striker in January.
Going into the final week of the window, the reliable journalist reported that the only probable piece of business will be Brenden Aaronson if RB Salzburg decides to play ball.
If that doesn’t happen, it looks as though nothing will, despite our real problems in the final third at Elland Road.
Writing in his latest column for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Smyth shared that any new move won’t be happening.
“Bielsa did welcome both Joe Gelhardt and Tyler Roberts back from the treatment room at the weekend to bolster his attacking options, although neither started as Daniel James occupied the lone striker role,” he said.
“Their return, along with that of Rodrigo who on Saturday played his first 90 minutes since September, mean Bielsa will not be asking for a new striker in the remainder of the January transfer window.”
Silence.
Bielsa has remained tight-lipped this month, but surely if the money was available, he would love another option in the final third.
Patrick Bamford has picked up another injury, and El Loco himself admitted that he still isn’t sure if he will be able to count on him at Aston Villa.
Rodrigo has proved that he simply struggles in this system, with Tyler Roberts the same and Joe Gelhardt deemed too young for consistent starts by the looks of things.
That leaves Dan James, and although he can press defenders with his non-stop running, his finishing is that of a Sunday league standard at the best of times.
Given our bids for Aaronson of up to £20million this month, the money was there to spend, the Whites have just wasted a lot of time as well as a huge opportunity.
Let’s hope this doesn’t come back to bite us.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are set to table a sneaky £22million bid to secure major new January signing