Leeds told to spend 'proper money' on top striker - pundit

Leeds United need to break the bank on a new striker as they aim to earn promotion back to the Premier League this season.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, ex-England international goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Leeds United should look to add a ‘proven goalscorer’ over a prospect like Sunderland’s Eliezer Mayenda, 19.

The West Yorkshire club have turned around a frustrating start to the season, earning two consecutive 2-0 victories against Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City.

Sunderland currently sit at the top of the Championship thanks in large part to Mayenda’s two goals and two assists.

Leeds United need to sign a ‘proven goalscorer’

Leeds haven’t had a striker score more than 20 league goals since Chris Wood in 2016-17, who ended the Championship campaign with 27.

Patrick Bamford managed to score 33 goals league goals across two seasons under Marcelo Bielsa but hasn’t been able to recapture that form since.

“They didn’t start great when you look at the first game of the season with a 3-3 draw with Portsmouth”, Robinson told Football Insider.

“I was at the Middlesbrough game in the Carabao Cup, and like many Leeds fans left the stadium thinking ‘we could be in trouble here’.

“You’ve got to give Daniel Farke credit, went to West Brom, got a decent 0-0 draw, it wasn’t the most entertaining game, didn’t create much but didn’t concede, and then won the two Yorkshire derbies 2-0.

“They’ve brought in over £100million into the club, and they’ve not spent a lot but I think Manor Solomon is a good recruit, on loan from Tottenham.

“You wonder why they’re stripping so many assets from the side if FFP and PSR isn’t that bad.

“I would like to seem them bring in a number nine, but I don’t think Mayenda is the answer.

“He’s 19 years old, was on loan at Hibernian last season, only made two league appearances for them.

“He’s hit the ground running at Sunderland and there is a little bit of noise around him but if you want a proven goalscorer to get you out of that league, he’s not the answer.

“Bamford has been sporadic in the last two seasons, not been fit enough, not scored the goals.

“Mateo Joseph has looks the most lively out of the three, I think I’d rather play with Joseph than bring Mayenda in.

“Piroe looks at times like he could do a job, with Joseph, Piroe, and Bamford, I think they have enough there and I don’t think Mayenda plays about those three anyway.

“If you’re going to get a striker to get you out of this league, go and get a proven one.

“They were looking at Szmodics, that’s the type of player you want, you don’t want to take a risk on a 19-year-old who’s not really cut his teeth at that level yet.

“If you want a top striker to get you out of the league, pay proper money to get a proven one.”

In other news, Leeds fans love Largie Ramazani already after what he said.

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