Thomas Christiansen hailed Pierre-Michel Lasogga for his finishing as speculation intensifies that Leeds United are trying to capture a new centre-forward by the 31 January cut-off.
Lasogga had gone nearly three months without a goal before he struck twice in United’s 4-3 Championship defeat to Millwall on Saturday.
The on-loan German’s double came amid reports that Leeds have had a £4million bid rejected for West Brom striker Tyler Roberts as well as being strongly linked with the likes of Preston North End’s Jordan Hugill and Peterborough United’s Jack Marriott.
United have been under pressure to sign a new centre-forward by the end of the month and Christiansen has previously suggested he wants a new front man in soon.
But the manager has told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “Everyone said we need a striker. Here, you have a striker – two goals. “Okay he could have scored in the first half and we avoid perhaps the red card but that is only to put down something negative because he made a very good game. I cannot demand more.”
OPINION
Lasogga and Roofe took their goals well in their side’s nearly-but-not-quite comeback with 10 men against Millwall at the weekend, but the team are still crying out for centre-forward reinforcements. Both players were dead on the knees by the end of a tub-thumping Elland Road encounter and Christiansen needs further striker reinforcements. Don’t forget, Lasogga is only on loan until the end of the season, Caleb Ekuban has barely figured due to injury and Jay-Roy Grot is nobody’s idea of a competent Championship front man. Furthermore, Roofe is far more comfortable operating from deep, Alexis Sanchez-style, than leading the line. Leeds need another spearhead who can string 10 games together in a row, can pull defenders out of position, get in behind and bang in the goals. Saturday’s events haven’t changed that.