Breaking News: Kris Boyd urges Leeds to sign 28-year-old goal machine after… Read More.
Kris Boyd urges Leeds to sign 28-year-old goal machine after… Read More.
Kris Boyd, the former Rangers striker, has advised Leeds United to consider signing Blackburn Rovers’ forward Sammie Szmodics following Leeds’ underwhelming performance against Portsmouth.
Leeds managed only a 3-3 draw in their opening game of the new Championship season, needing a last-minute penalty from Brenden Aaronson to salvage a point at Elland Road.
Boyd’s comments come after Leeds struggled to secure promotion last season, narrowly missing out after losing the play-off final to Southampton.
The club has had a turbulent summer, losing key players such as Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville to Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, respectively.
With more potential departures looming, including interest in Wilfried Gnonto from top-flight clubs, Leeds faces significant challenges in building a squad capable of challenging for promotion.
Despite these setbacks, Leeds does have a sizeable budget to spend on reinforcements during the transfer window.
Boyd believes that signing Szmodics, who was the top scorer in the Championship last season with 27 goals, could be the solution to Leeds’ goal-scoring issues. Boyd criticized Leeds’ lack of a central goal threat during their match against Portsmouth, particularly singling out Mateo Joseph’s performance.
He emphasized that while Leeds created plenty of opportunities, they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, relying too heavily on the wide play of Gnonto and Dan James.
Boyd suggested that Leeds should use some of the funds from recent player sales to secure Szmodics, who has already made an impact this season by scoring in Blackburn’s 4-2 victory over Derby County.
Szmodics had attracted interest from Ipswich Town earlier in the transfer window, and Blackburn Rovers will be keen to retain their star forward. However, Boyd believes that Leeds could benefit immensely from adding a proven goal-scorer like Szmodics to their ranks.
Boyd’s comments highlight the pressure on Leeds to make smart investments in the transfer market, as the difference between automatic promotion and another play-off heartbreak could hinge on acquiring the right players.
While it is early in the season, Boyd’s assessment underlines the urgency for Leeds to address their striking options to strengthen their bid for a return to the Premier League.
The former striker’s analysis suggests that Leeds’ success this season may depend heavily on their ability to replace the quality lost during the summer and reinforce their squad with players who can consistently find the back of the net.
The addition of Szmodics, with his proven track record, could provide Leeds with the firepower needed to achieve their promotion ambitions and avoid another season of disappointment in the Championship.
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