Leeds United’s 3-3 draw with Portsmouth saw the good and bad of Daniel Farke’s side on Saturday afternoon at Elland Road, and one element was a lack of efficiency in front of goal.
Yes, Leeds scored three goals but it could have been double figures. The Whites hit the bar three times in the first 10 minutes and missed numerous other chances, before Brenden Aaronson’s late golden chance.
The USA star had just equalised to draw Leeds level with a brilliant touch and finish on 95 minutes, after Portsmouth’s 92nd-minute penalty. Put through on goal, he somehow missed the target to win 4-3.
Leeds should have scored a whole lot more than they did, enough to make Portsmouth’s three goals pale into insignificance. While Mateo Joseph impressed, Leeds looked as if they lacked a natural goalscorer.
New £9m price tag has got to convince Leeds to make a move
There were reports towards the end of last month and earlier this month that Leeds were among the clubs battling it out for Ireland star Sammie Szmodics’ signature, with a move away from Blackburn likely.
It comes after his incredible haul of goals last season, that saw him win The Championship’s golden boot. Ipswich are the front runners to land the 28-year-old ace, who is best as a no.10 but can play as a striker.
The Sun’s Alan Nixon reports that Ipswich have bid £8.5m, and are just £500,000 short of the £9m price tag that Blackburn have slapped on his head. Surely, that has got to see Leeds consider making a move.
Kris Boyd has urged Leeds to sign Sammie Szmodics this summer
Not only is it a bargain at £9m for a player with the stats he produced last season, but the “incredible” star guarantees goals at this level. You cannot buy promotion, but signing Szmodics is the next best thing.
Bringing in a forward that with the amount of chances Leeds create would quite easily to score 20 times, takes Leeds up. Leeds have lost that in the sale of Crysencio Summerville and it must now be replaced.
Kris Boyd was watching Leeds and he says while The Whites created chances, they didn’t look like finding the back of the net and touted Szmodics as a signing – after he scored one and created another on Friday.
He said: “Get a striker like Sammie Szmodics. Can you get him maybe? Go and get someone because they created loads of opportunities, but I will be honest with you, they never really looked like scoring.
