OPINION
Leeds United can pull off a late-window masterstroke by hijacking Sunderland’s bid to sign Barnsley giant Kieffer Moore.
The tower striker, who stands at 6ft 5in (source: Transfermarkt) can add an exciting new dimension to a Leeds attack reliant on nimble and technical players.
He would represent a brilliant plan B option for the second half of the campaign, offering an excellent outlet against opponents who want to out-muscle Leeds as well as a player capable of scaring teams as an impact substitute in true British battering ram tradition.
According to Football Insider, Sunderland have opened negotiations with Barnsley over signing Moore by the 31 January cut-off and have already tabled a £2million bid.
That is the sort of fee that is within promotion-chasing Leeds’ reach and is a deal that could be brokered in the next week as they look at reinforcing an attack that is starting to look paper-thin.
Marcelo Bielsa’s update on long-term absentees Patrick Bamford and Izzy Brown was not encouraging today, and there must be severe doubt as to what impact they can make over the coming months.
Moore could immediately slot into the team, either in the starting XI, or the bench.
His record this season for Barnsley – 15 goals from 27 appearances – is hugely impressive and he has been the spearhead of the fifth-placed side’s automatic promotion pursuit.
Leeds should look to hijack Sunderland’s pursuit and pull off a blinding deal of their own.