Leeds United have a decision to make when the January transfer window opens, with Daniel Farke facing questions over whether his current attacking options are strong enough to cope with the demands of the second half of the season.
The Whites have a recognised first-choice striker, but there are concerns about how much they could rely on the alternatives if injuries or a dip in form become an issue.
Jermaine Beckford believes the club should be looking to strengthen in that position rather than simply hoping their existing options are enough.
Beckford wants Leeds to sign another striker
Former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford has sent Farke a clear message ahead of January, suggesting the club should bring in another centre-forward to compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.
Beckford believes Nmecha has shown plenty of encouraging qualities despite not playing regularly, pointing to the physical presence and movement he brings when introduced from the bench.
“Lukas Nmecha’s there as well. Although he’s not been playing week in, week out, when he does come off the bench, he shows a lot of the attributes that Dom’s got – the physicality, the hard running into the channels. He does find himself in the areas where you score goals. It’s just not quite fallen for him just yet.
“As a number nine, somebody that plays up top as well in that position, I know that a lot of that is down to confidence. You only gain confidence by playing more games.”
The former striker understands that Nmecha’s opportunities are limited because Calvert -Lewin has established himself as Farke’s preferred option. He believes the German needs patience, but also warned that he must make the most of his chances when they arrive.
Leeds urged to add more firepower in January
Beckford’s main concern is the lack of depth beyond those two options. He does not believe Leeds should be comfortable relying on either Nmecha or Calvert-Lewin as their only recognised centre-forward if either becomes unavailable.
“I would like to see a third number nine, if I’m honest. I wouldn’t call it back up, but as extra competition for those two boys. I do think if one of them gets injured, you are heavily reliant on the last one.
“The false number nine doesn’t quite fit a Leeds United team. The January window comes around, I’m hoping to see a number nine get pulled up. We’ll just have to see.”
It is a message Farke and the Leeds recruitment team will have to consider. Calvert-Lewin may currently be leading the line effectively, but the second half of the campaign could expose the limitations of having only two recognised options.
Beckford is not calling for Nmecha to be discarded. Instead, he wants Leeds to add another striker who can push both forwards and give Farke greater flexibility when the pressure increases.
