Leeds United have been searching for a prolific attacker since Chris Wood departed in the final throws of the 2017 summer transfer window.
Much of their play-off bid in 2016/17 play-off bid was owed to the goalscoring form of the New Zealander and losing him on the eve of the season was a hammerblow from which Thomas Christiansen was ultimately unable to recover.
Marcelo Bielsa has been able to fill the void and while Tyler Roberts has stepped up in recent weeks, Kemar Roofe is the main reason why.
The former Oxford man has been transformed by the Argentine; from promising forward with no clear best position to mobile, deadly striker who can net the goals to power Leeds’ promotion bid.
Familiar issue
But now that new-look attack is being threatened once more, by the same club that snatched Wood away, Burnley.
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Football Insider report that Sean Dyche’s struggling Clarets, along with Southampton and Brighton, have an interest in Roofe’s signature as Leeds still have not tied him down to a new deal.
Leeds cannot afford to have their promotion bid derailed once more by Burnley; the appeal of a move to Turf Moor is not the lure of a bigger club, but Premier League status and wages.
Bielsa must persuade his top striker to shun the advances from the top flight; at least until the end of the season.
Of course, the cautionary tale might be that Roofe could end up swapping places with Leeds in May if he moves in January; all three of his potential suitors could well be relegated this season.
However he does it, Bielsa must get Roofe to stay. Leeds’ already thin squad cannot cope with the loss of such a key man mid-season.