Speaking recently on the Football Writers Podcast, tactical analyst Adrian Clarke stated that in order for Leeds to be a success in the Premier League next season, they need to invest in a new striker over the summer.
Following West Bromwich Albion’s 2-1 loss to Huddersfield last Friday, it was confirmed that Leeds United would be returning to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side then went on to defeat Derby 3-1 at Pride Park, and in doing so, ensured that they put the cherry on the cake after their status as champions of the division was confirmed a day prior, thanks to Brentford’s defeat at Stoke City.
However, despite the feel-good factor around the club at present, talk has already begun as to how the club will fare in next season’s top flight, with Clarke suggesting on the Football Writers Podcast that it is crucial Bielsa signs a striker over the summer.
He said: “I’m excited to see how they fare. They were sensational against Arsenal for 45 minutes in the FA Cup back in January [but] they couldn’t keep it going [and] didn’t score. And that has been their failing – they’ve not scored enough goals, even though they’ve gone up as champions – and I do worry that in the top flight, that will be a bigger issue, of course. So, for me, they definitely need to upgrade in the striker’s position.”
TIF Thoughts…
While Clarke’s statement that Leeds haven’t ‘scored enough goals’ may be slightly overdoing it – as the Whites have scored the third-most goals in the Championship this season with 73, just two fewer than West Brom and six fewer than top scorers Brentford – though what is perhaps more true is that Bielsa’s first-choice striker, Patrick Bamford, has struggled at times.
Although the 26-year-old has netted 16 times this season, enough to rank as the sixth-highest total in the league, his 213 minutes played per goal rate of scoring is not exactly prolific – with current leader Aleksandar Mitrovic boasting a rate of a goal every 135 minutes.
Do you think Leeds need to upgrade on Patrick Bamford this summer?
Yes
No
As such, in our opinion, it would certainly appear that Leeds could do with a more consistent goalscorer for their Premier League campaign.