Leeds United brought in two wingers on deadline day, but could they have done with an extra striker?
It’s been an excellent start to the season for Leeds United. After the arrival of Garry Monk, the side are now storming towards promotion, and after a hard-fought 1-2 win away at Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United look like a good bet for the play-offs at least this season.
Their revival, which has been nothing short of extraordinary, comes mostly down to the incredible job Garry Monk has done at coaching previously under-performing players; finding the best way to get the maximum out of them. Chris Wood for example, who has struggled since joining Leeds United permanently, has really come to life under Garry Monk, after scoring an impressive 17 goals this season.
Leeds United’s Chris Wood
But Wood surely can’t be relied on to deliver the goals all season, and many Leeds United fans were hoping Garry Monk would look to bring in a new striker in the January transfer window, to provide support for Wood and cover in case he were to get injured. They didn’t.
Perhaps this was down to the crazy inflation of the market. Top Championship strikers over the last year or so, such as Jonathan Kodjia, Ross McCormack and Scott Hogan, have all been selling for prices in and around the tens-of-millions mark, and this makes bringing in someone to compete with Chris Wood exceptionally hard.
So, should Leeds United have looked to the lower leagues? During January, there were two excellent, and reasonably priced, players they certainly could have considered.
Leeds United manager Garry Monk
Former Grimbsy Town striker Omar Bogle was one. Scoring 19 goals in League Two this season, Bogle was a real steal for Wigan Athletic, who brought the striker in for just £1 million, according to Sky Sports.
Bristol Rovers striker Matty Taylor was another option. The striker has fired an impressive amount of goals since joining Rovers back in 2014, scoring 61 goals in 118 appearances. Joining arch-rivals Bristol City, Taylor could well have been just the kind of poacher Leeds United needed to provide back-up for their New Zealand forward.
Bristol City’s new signing Matty Taylor at half time
So what do you think Leeds United fans? Should Garry Monk have brought in an extra forward? Were Bogle and Taylor realistic targets? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Omar Bogle celebrates
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