Leeds fans will be spitting feathers if Heckingbottom lands new shock striker target
COMMENT By Richard Parks
Leeds United fans will be spitting feathers if they sign Barnsley striker Tom Bradshaw this summer.
As revealed by Football Insider, the Wales international is a new shock target for United as they look to overhaul a front line that has badly malfunctioned in the second half of the campaign.
The Elland Road faithful are excited at widespread reports they are keen on signing Bradshaw's on-loan teammate Oli McBurnie, the 21-year-old forward who has banged in eight goals in 13 matches since joining in January.
They will be more than a little miffed at their team joining Nottingham Forest, Birmingham, Sunderland and Reading in the race to prise the 25-year-old from Oakwell.
Given Leeds have also been strongly linked with two other Tykes, right-back Andy Yiadom and midfielder Joe Williams, fans would be forgiven that Paul Heckingbottom is trying to turn the team into Barnsley Mark II.
There would be nothing wrong with that if Heckingbottom's former club were flying high at the top of the Championship rather than placed in the relegation zone and fighting to avoid the drop.
If Bradshaw is so great, why has he been a substitute for nine out of Barnsley's last 10 matches at a time when they are fighting for their second-tier life?
If he is such a sought-after goalscorer, why has most of his career been spent in League One and his Barnsley return stands at 14 goals from 79 matches?
If he is such a valuable commodity, why have the Tykes not attempted to tie him down to a new contract beyond the summer of 2019?
As every man and his dog with a passing knowledge of Championship football knows, Leeds are badly in need of a centre-forward worth his salt.
Bradshaw is not and never will be the man.