Leeds United have suffered from an almost unprecedented season when it comes to injury crises. Several key players have missed significant periods of the season, with Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper, Rodrigo, Diego Llorente and Robin Koch amongst those players.
However, the one they have struggled without more than any other player is their centre forward, Patrick Bamford. Both Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch have tried multiple players in place of Bamford but none have been able to do the job that their number nine does.
Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts and Daniel James each have elements of Bamford's game within the way that they play. However, none of them have all of Bamford's core abilities. Those being: pressing, occupying centre backs and holding the ball up with strength, making runs behind the opposition line and getting into good positions to score.
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Joe Gelhardt has also broken through this season and looks very exciting but Leeds will perhaps be best served with him playing alongside Bamford or a similar number nine than being the main man leading the line. The teenager seems like his future will be as a deep-lying forward and thus Victor Orta will likely go to the transfer window in the summer to ensure that Marsch has a player who can challenge Bamford next season and not leave the Whites light up front should either of them suffer injuries.
Orta is known for having extensive knowledge of world football and he will cast his net wide in any search. Here are Leeds Live's suggestions for players who could fit the bill:
Dominic Solanke
Many Leeds fans will know Solanke as a Premier League flop. However, the 24-year-old Solanke is a different prospect to the player who moved to Bournemouth from Liverpool in 2018/19.
He has hit 15 and 24 goals in his two seasons in the Championship and has been nominated for the EFL Player of the Season award. The Under-20 World Cup winner has a similar physical profile to Bamford and is able to hold the ball up and link play well, as well as stretching opponents and scoring goals.
One issue with a potential deal for Solanke would be the potential cost. Bournemouth would likely demand a large fee and may not be willing to do any deal, should they win promotion from the Championship.
Charles De Ketelaere
Leeds were strongly linked to Club Brugge's Noa Lang last summer, so Orta will be very aware of his teammate, Charles De Ketelaere. The 21-year-old has already won six caps for Belgium and is having his best season in front of goal, hitting 14 goals in the Belgian Pro League.
Again, he has a similar physical profile to Bamford, standing at six feet, three inches. He also possesses excellent technical quality, allowing him to link the play well, despite operating in congested areas.
However, the Belgian likes to drop away from defenders to collect the ball, which would be a habit Marsch would likely want to coach out of him in his system, since he would prefer a centre forward to pin opposition defenders back. Also, De Ketelaere is seen as one of the hot prospects of European football this season and shone for the Belgian champions in the Champions League group stages. This might see the 21-year-old inundated with offers.
Eddie Nketiah
Nketiah is included in this list due to the fact that rumours have linked the former loanee to a return to Elland Road on a free transfer. He would certainly provide a goal threat, as his movement in the box is exceptional.
Having played for Leeds under Bielsa, as well as Arsenal under Arteta, he is comfortable in a pressing system. However, an issue with him is that his back to goal play would be a step down from Bamford, as it was in the Championship.
Terem Moffi
Another foreign based option is Lorient striker, Teren Moffi. The Nigerian has scored seven goals for a side just four points above the relegation places.
At 22 years old, he is the right kind of profile for a player to come and compete with Bamford. He wouldn't necessarily expect to be given a first-choice role but would be able to play a high number of minutes if needed, whilst offering an option from the bench or to give Marsch the option to rotate the squad which he doesn't have currently.
Notably, he is in the 77th percentile for strikers in Europe's top five leagues for expected goals per 90, so he has an ability to get on the end of chances which Leeds have missed without Bamford. He is also blessed with raw pace to stretch the opponent's backline and has strength to hold the ball up. Transfermarkt values him at £9million so Leeds may feel they could do a deal for the Lorient man.
Valentin Castellanos
Finally, Leeds have also been linked with Valentin Castellanos but this is a link that would fit the profile needed better than Nketiah. The Argentinian is more of an all-round number nine in the shape of Bamford, rather than Nketiah, who is a goal poacher at heart.
However, Castellanos is a regular goal scorer. He scored 23 times as New York City FC won the MLS Cup for the first time last season and has four goals in six appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League this season. A deal could likely be done for the player, as a move to the Premier League would be seen as a big step in his career. However, for Leeds the risk would come in whether or not he is able to make the step up in quality. Presuming Bamford was fit to carry the main bulk of minutes, the risk would be mitigated by the fact that Castellanos could be brought through slowly.
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