Leeds could repeat the Roofe masterclass with a move for the “miracle” EFL star

Time is running out for Leeds United enter the transfer market to strengthen their squad before the January transfer window closes in early February.

The Whites have yet to make a splash this month, but are not in desperate need of reinforcements as they top the table Priority the table as it stands.

A relatively comfortable 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on Sunday secured their return to the top, having been overtaken by Sheffield United on Saturday.

Goals from Manor Solomon, Largie Ramazani and Ao Tanaka secured all three points for the West Yorkshire side, while Illan Meslier kept a clean sheet between the sticks.

Instead of splashing the cash on a big name from the Premier League or an exciting player from abroad, Leeds could do less work and put a home-grown option on the line.

The Whites have had success in the past when raiding the Football League to pick up promising young talent, and Kemar Roofe is a prime example of how they do it.

Leeds United’s Kemar Roofe Masterclass

In the summer of 2016, Leeds signed Kemar Roofe from Oxford United in a deal reportedly worth around £3 million after the centre-forward caught the eye in the Second League.

The English-born forward produced 17 goals and ten assists in 40 League Two appearances during the 2015/16 season, which convinced the Whites to spend £3m on the young dynamo.

Roofe wasn’t a hit at Elland Road though, as the former Oxford man only managed a goal. four times in 49 he appeared in all competitions in his first season at the club.

The Leeds striker needed that year to settle into life in West Yorkshire and the Championship, having previously played in League Two, and stepped up his game over the next two campaigns.

As you can see in the table above, Roofe became a reliable threat for the Whites in his second and third years at the Championship club, scoring 25 goals.

Jamaica international just started 52 those games, almost averaging a goal every other start, and helped Leeds reach the play-off semi-finals in the 2018/19 campaign under Bielsa.

Roofe’s form for Leeds has attracted interest from elsewhere, with Belgian giants Anderlecht swooping in to secure his services for what is believed to be compensation of up to £7m in the summer of 2019.

The West Yorkshire side therefore played a masterclass in snapping up the striker for £3m, as they got two great seasons out of him before cashing in on a £4m move.

Leeds could repeat their blind-play with Roofe in the ongoing January transfer window by raiding Oxford United for another of their young talents.

Leeds interested in Oxford gem

Football Insider recently reported that Leeds are one of a number of teams interested in signing Tyler Goodrham from Gary Rowett’s side this month.

The outlet claimed that the Whites, Swansea City, Sunderland and Coventry City are vying to secure a deal for the 21-year-old starlet to bolster their squads.

All four teams are said to be monitoring the Oxford United star and are plotting late moves to land the attacking midfielder ahead of the second half of the season.

That means Leeds may have to act quickly if they want to secure his services this month as there is plenty of interest from elsewhere in the division.

However, the Football Insider report did not reveal how much money it would take to convince Oxford to part with their young starlet midway through the season.

Leeds must now make a move to win the race for Goodrham as the talented youngster could come as a great long-term addition Daniel Farketeams.

Why Leeds should sign Tyler Goodrham

Instead of signing a big name, such as Buendia – for example, who can come in and be expected to make an immediate impact in the second half of the season, the Whites could sign the Oxford gem with the aim of him being a key player for the German boss going forward.

At the age of 21, the Irish dynamo arrived as a young talent with plenty of time left in front of him to develop and improve over the years to come.

He could spend the second half of this season as a first-team player for Leeds and learn from Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnont and Largie Ramazani, among others, to improve and refine his skills, either as a winger or as an attacking midfielder.

The versatile striker, who can play in the middle or on the outside, has achieved results three goals and three assists in 25 league appearances so far this term, meaning he has shown promise in the final third without being a constant threat.

Goodrham, which is hailed as “wonderful” player former boss Des Buckingham, made his breakthrough as a regular starter in League One last season and helped his side win promotion to League Two.

As you can see in the table above, the young forward has contributed 12 straight goals in just 23 starts, which speaks to his potential to make a big impact in the final third when he’s at his best.

As they did with Roofe, Leeds may have to be patient with Goodrham and accept that he is unlikely to be a key star right away, given his decent but unspectacular return this season, but with the hope that he will follow in Roofe’s footsteps and develop into a valuable capital of the club in the future.