Presenter Conor McGilligan has said Leeds United must sign a new striker similar to Patrick Bamford after investor Peter Lowy was spotted recently at Elland Road.
It was a day to forget in the Premier League for the club’s two senior strikers over the weekend. Indeed, as the Whites lost to Arsenal 2-0, Rodrigo played a key part in the goal conceded, while Bamford replaced him at halftime only to miss a penalty in the second half.
Watching on from the stands, Lowy and Andrea Radrizzani may not have been too pleased with the Leeds attackers but McGilligan has criticised the club for not bringing in an alternative in the summer.
While speaking on the One Leeds Channel, he noted the investor’s attendance and claimed that it would be ‘absolute madness’ if Leeds didn’t sign someone who can replicate Patrick Bamford’s ‘style and attributes’ in January.
In full, he said (4:26): “That was the frustrating element for me, the fact that Leeds didn’t do anything beforehand. They panicked on the last day [of the transfer window] when Rodrigo got an injury. We shouldn’t have been doing that when Rodrigo got an injury. We should have been doing that from the very beginning, even if we didn’t get Charles De Ketelaere, so we had that person that could replicate Patrick Bamford’s style and attributes.
“And I think Leeds United will be in a much better position if the board had put their finger out, which they haven’t done. And it’s interesting yesterday that Lowy the investor in Leeds United and there was a lot of the board members there.
“And it’s gonna be fascinating to see if Leeds do something in January and if we don’t then it’s absolute madness. But it’s going to cost us a pretty penny.”
TIF thoughts on Patrick Bamford and Leeds…
While Bamford has shown he can score at the highest level – having netted 17 league goals in the 2020/21 season – he has yet to hit the back of the net this season and managed just two efforts last term.
While injuries have played a part in his struggles, if he can’t find his best form soon, the club really will need to have a trustworthy replacement in the team who can do the same job.
Evidently, McGilligan feels as though Rodrigo can’t offer the same skill set, while youngsters such as Wilfried Gnonto, Joe Gelhardt, and Sam Greenwood might not be up for the job either.
PSV winger Cody Gakpo has been touted as a prime winter target for the Whites, but he may not be a like-for-like alternative for Bamford either – and could be an unrealistic target – and so it will be interesting to see who the club identify as an option, if anyone at all.
Do Leeds need to sign an alternative to Patrick Bamford?
Yes
No
