Back in January, Leeds United fans were crying out for a striker and Brian Deane wishes The Whites signed a forward that has gone on to push The Whites into the play-offs.
Joel Piroe’s form had dipped after a solid first half to the season but Patrick Bamford came back into the fold after failing to score a single goal in 2023 this term, to go on and net nine times since January.
Leeds could have done with a striker but Bamford’s form probably ended the needs for a new attacker, with Leeds only signing Wales international Connor Roberts in the winter window on loan from Burnley.
At the beginning of the January window, Leeds were being linked with a move for another Wales star in the form of target man Kieffer Moore with his game time at Bournemouth limited in the Premier League.
Leeds were said to be one of the club’s aware of Moore’s situation and keeping tabs on the big striker. But of course, Moore moved to Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich instead of Leeds and has since starred.
Former Leeds striker Deane says he wishes The 49ers made a move to sign £40k-a-week Moore:
Deane wishes Leeds United could have signed Kieffer Moore
Having previously played 155 times in the Championship and scoring 47 goals, Moore is renowned as an expert at this level and it showed under McKenna during the second half of the season at Portman Road.
He scored seven goals in 18 appearances for Ipswich, helping them finish above Leeds in second place. Speaking to Tribal Football, Deane says he wished Leeds had signed Moore instead of Ipswich in January.
“When Ipswich went and got Kieffer Moore I thought, ‘that’s the guy Leeds needed’. To offer a different option up front. I don’t think Leeds know how to win ugly. That’s the problem,” Deane told Tribal Football.
What Joe Rodon has said about Ipswich striker Moore in the past
Moore is obviously that physical presence that will have a battle with a centre-back and physically try to overpower them. Rodon has been on the receiving end of that and spoke about facing Moore in training.
Speaking in 2021, Rodon said: “He’s a great lad. You’ve seen out there he’s a problem, he brings that physical presence. Great to have in the team. I don’t enjoy that [marking him in training] to be honest.”
Moore has played 41 times for Wales and scored 12 goals, half of which have been assisted by Dan James. So the chances are he might have been a good signing but now, we now we will never know.