Leeds United boss Garry Monk says he had been targeting Kemar Roofe for two years

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The Leeds manager had been keeping an eye on the Oxford prodigy during his time in charge of Swansea City.

Leeds United manager Garry Monk has told LUTV that he was well aware of the talents of his new signing Kemar Roofe because he had been tracking the young star for two years whilst in charge of Swansea City.

Monk brought in Roofe last week after the 23-year-old impressed hugely with 26 goals from 48 appearances in all competitions for League Two Oxford United last term.

Though that was undoubtedly the best season so far of his young career, Roofe has been a hugely talented youngster for years, impressing in a series of loan spells at lower league clubs whilst an academy star at West Bromwich Albion.

Monk is delighted to have finally got his man and admitted that he had been tracking the forward since his days in charge of Premier League side Swansea City.

The former Swans captain told LUTV: “Of course I was well aware [of Roofe], especially from last season. He played against Swansea in the Cup; I wasn’t there at that time, but I obviously watched the game.

“He was on the radar for Swansea over the last two years, in terms of his name came up a few times.”

Roofe is tipped as one of the hottest talents in the lower leagues of English football, and Leeds fans will be hoping that he can reproduce the form he showed in the fourth tier last term when he makes the step up to the Championship this season.

As well as returning to previous targets from his time at Swansea, Monk has also raided his former club itself this summer, bringing in defender Kyle Bartley and young midfielder Matt Grimes on loan from the Liberty Stadium.