OPINION
With just two new names through the door at Elland Road, the fans at Leeds United have every right to be frustrated about how their summer has gone – not least because they have failed to strengthen where they needed most.
Lewis Baker and Jamal Blackman have both joined on loan from Premier League heavyweights Chelsea, but a central midfielder and a goalkeeper should not have been at the top of the club’s priorities when they were heading into summer.
What they desperately needed, and still need, is a striker, with just Caleb Ekuban and last season’s top scorer Kemar Roofe, himself a converted wide man, left after a clear out by Marcelo Bielsa.
Their lack of quality centre forward hurt them more than anything last season, and that must change – but with who?
Matej Vydra and Abel Hernandez have been heavily linked with a move to Leeds, but the club appear to have been priced out of a move over either contract demands.
Instead, the Whites must be looking at launching a raid for a 6’3″ (source: Transfermarkt) Premier League colossus who could be a real focal point up front – not to mention a potential bargain.
The Sun journalist Alan Nixon claims on his personal Twitter account that Southampton are willing to sell giant striker Sam Gallagher if a club meets their asking price, with the 22-year-old seemingly having no future on the south coast.
With nearly 100 games of Championship experience under his belt, including a season with Birmingham City last season, Gallagher is well on the way to developing into a talented centre forward, and while he has not been prolific, he would offer something different to the options already at Elland Road.
The English forward, a former under-20 player for the Three Lions, is reported by the Sun to be targeted by Stoke for a £7million move, and at that price, Leeds could be onto an absolute steal.