Leeds United reason for missing out on Kieffer Moore signing to Ipswich Town revealed
Leeds United missed out on the signing of Kieffer Moore to Ipswich Town because of the forward’s wage demands, according to Carlton Palmer.
Speaking to Football League World on Tuesday (5 March), the pundit said the Tractor Boys agreed to pay the majority of the Welsh international’s £40,000-£45,000-a-week salary, which was a “problem” for the Whites.
He believes the 31-year-old would have been an ideal addition to Daniel Farke’s side as he has been a “fantastic signing” for their promotion rivals, helping them get back to winning ways in recent weeks following a dip in form throughout January.
“Ipswich are on a fine run of form,” said Palmer. “After a little bit of a dip, they’ve moved back into second place by winning their last five games. This has coincided with the loan signing of Kieffer Moore, who’s come in and had an excellent start to his loan spell with five goals in seven Championship appearances.
“It’s been a fantastic signing. Sunderland and Leeds were keen on him, but I believe that Ipswich agreed to pay the majority of his salary, which was the problem [for Sunderland and Leeds], as he was reportedly on £40,000-£45,000 per week, which would’ve been a lot of money for the other clubs.
“As they were interested in him, he’d have been a great signing as he’s proven with Ipswich, who are now just three points behind Leicester. Leicester have lost three in a row. I thought they were out of sight, and now Ipswich are bearing down their necks with the ambition of back-to-back promotions.”
Leeds United have excellent forward options
There is no doubt that Moore is certainly a quality striker at Championship level and has plenty to offer, but Leeds have more than enough attacking options.
With Patrick Bamford finding form since the turn of the year, Georginio Rutter continuing to put in top performances and Joel Piroe providing a goal threat, the Welshman wouldn’t have been guarenteed minutes.
There was no way the Whites were ever going to pay that much money for someone who probably wasn’t going to come directly into the starting lineup.
But that is what the forward has managed to do at Ipswich, having scored five goals in seven matches since making the switch to Portman Road, where he played six years ago.
While he could potentially have a huge say in who goes up this season given how he’s helped turn around the Tractor Boys’ fortunes recently, he shouldn’t go down as one that got away at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, footage has emerged of what one Whites star did in a controversial incident against Huddersfield.
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