MOT View: Leeds United need to reconsider their transfer policy
Leeds United have been without a recognised striker for much of the 2021-22 season so far with Patrick Bamford suffering from a series of injuries.
Dan James has been deputising as the leading man recently with Rodrigo and Under-23s striker Joe Gelhardt all getting minutes up top.
But all the talk out of Elland Road seems to suggest that a striker has never been on the agenda when the club’s January plans were discussed.
This seems like a huge error on Leeds’ part with Bamford no longer the bullet-proof number nine Marcelo Bielsa desires.
Even though Phil Hay thinks there are adequate alternatives to the England international already at Elland Road, as he detailed in The Athletic, we’re not so sure.
With the Whites not yet properly safe from the threat of relegation, and aspirations for another top-half finish, they really need another viable option to Bamford as the current crop haven’t cut the mustard so far.
Rodrigo was supposed to be the heir to Bamford’s throne when he joined the club but he has become more of an attacking midfielder during his time in Yorkshire.
Gelhardt is still too inexperienced to be the leading man week in, week out so they really should be in the market for a goalscorer, even if it is only on loan.
The way this season has gone for Bamford, Bielsa simply can’t trust that he will be capable of getting through the glut of games coming up without picking up a knock here and there and the backups can’t do it.
While the youth policy is admired by many, it isn’t going to keep you in the league and just for these six months, they need to find a new man to hit the back of the net.
In other Leeds United news, this star looks set to leave the club in the summer as contract negotiations stall.