Phil Hay believes that Jesse Marsch does indeed want to bring in a new striker to Leeds United this summer.
It’s quite clear that Leeds have the funds available to splash big on a striker this summer given they were willing to push the boat out for Charles de Ketelaere before the striker decided to join AC Milan instead.
However, that money appears to have been withdrawn by the board as no other striker has arrived to provide depth and competition to the likes of Patrick Bamford, Joe Gelhardt and Rodrigo, something that Marsch would like to see change according to Hay.
After listening to Marsch in his press conferences, Hay has claimed on The Phil Hay Show that Marsch would like to bring in one new striker.
(43:25) “I do think that they should be backing Gelhardt heavily but Wednesday night did suggest that you need to be sort of careful in the way that you handle him, you can’t just launch him in and say you get on with it and play loads of games. He is young, he’s massively talented but he hasn’t got a huge amount of football behind him.
Would you like Leeds to spend £20m on Hwang?
Yes!
No!
“To go back to the word I’ve used before it seems to me like insurance and I don’t think that necessarily means that you have to spend a massive amount of money but I hear enough in Marsch’s comments to make me think that he would like another one before the window closes, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”
TIF Thoughts on Leeds’ striker situation…
While Leeds have not been able to bring in a new striker this summer, they have still been linked with a plethora amount of players such as Ollie Watkins, Che Adams and Hwang-Hee chan, although no official moves have yet been made.
With just one week left of the transfer window, it remains to be seen whether or not Marsch will get his wish of a new striker, or if Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani just tighten the purse strings and in turn, keep some funds for the January transfer window.
That would indeed be a dangerous game to play from the Leeds hierarchy if no new striker was to arrive because like last season, if Patrick Bamford can’t stay fit and Rodrigo’s current run of goals dries up, then they could well find themselves struggling at the wrong end of the table once again.
Board withdrawn finances for a striker, presume thats for anymore players as still no LB, has that gone to line boards pockets? ?
Left back seems less pressing now but could become a problem again. A centre forward is obviously a high priority. Watkins or Adams would be good but seem unrealistic somehow. Personally I’d rather we didn’t sign anyone than bring in Hwang. What is the point of forwards who can’t score?