George Overhill

Sun 7 January 2024 9:10, UK

If Leeds United are successful in signing Kieffer Moore from Bournemouth during the transfer window they will be “onto a winner” according to Carlton Palmer.

The former Whites midfielder told Football League World (6 January) that the Welsh striker is a “proven” Championship goalscorer, so whoever triumphs in a crowded race for his services this month will be boosted.

According to The Sun (3 January) the Whites are up against second-tier rivals Ipswich, West Brom, Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Birmingham and Sunderland, with the £40,000-a-week forward stuck behind Dominic Solanke in Andoni Iraola’s squad.

Palmer said: “Several clubs, which include the likes of Leeds United, Ipswich Town, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Cardiff are all keen to sign Bournemouth centre-forward Kieffer Moore.

“It is understood that Bournemouth would be keen to see the striker depart the club if they can fill his place in the first team squad.

“Kieffer is proven at Championship level, scoring 20 goals in his first season at Cardiff, which earned him his move to Bournemouth.

“At 31, he is experienced and knows what it takes to get promoted out of the Championship, so any club that gets his signature is onto a winner.”

Needed?

Moore scored just his second goal of the season as the Cherries came from two down to knock QPR out of the FA Cup 3-2 on Saturday, in a timely reminder to all his suitors of what he can offer.

But while he might be a useful striker in his own right he would appear to be of a very similar profile of the main back-up striker already at Elland Road in Patrick Bamford.

Although the Englishman has struggled with some high-profile missteps in recent months he scored his first of the campaign in the 3-0 win over Birmingham on New Year’s Day, and the manager seems to still value him.

Daniel Farke appears to have abandoned his use of Joel Piroe, signed in the summer as striker reinforcements, as a number 10 behind Georginio Rutter for now.

But between the two men who had been functioning pretty well until the recent drop in form, Bamford, and the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Mateo Joseph, it is fair to wonder if there is space or a need to bring in Moore.

Unless the manager is certain to use him and believes he is a better player than his various current options it might make more sense to just play Bamford and use the loan slot and potential wage expenditure elsewhere.

In other Leeds United news, a mega-rich club are said to have “cried wolf before” amid interest in signing an Elland Road player this month.