Leeds United urged to turn to £10m goal machine after ‘huffing and puffing’ verdict

Leeds United have been urged to sign Blackburn Rovers hotshot Sammie Szmodics to help fire their Championship promotion bid.

While Daniel Farke saw his side score three times in their opening-day draw with Portsmouth at Elland Road, the Whites also passed up several good opportunities to have the game wrapped up, even before Brendan Aaronson’ wasted a glorious late chance.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Ireland forward Szmodics, who led the Championship goalscoring charts last season with 27 strikes, all summer, and the 28-year-old was on the mark on Friday night as Blackburn kicked off their season with a 4-2 win over Derby County.

Farke opted to start Mateo Joseph up front ahead of Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe after the young Spaniard impressed in pre-season, but former Scotland and Rangers striker Kris Boyd feels Leeds should splash some of the cash picked up from Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville’s exits on a bid for Szmodics.

“You’ve got someone there, Sammie Smodzics, who scored the goals for Blackburn last year, can you go and get him” Boyd said on Sky Sports.

“Because they (Leeds) created a lot of chances, but they never looked like they were going to score. It was all because of Gnonto or Dan James, the good work they did. Jayden Bogle went forward, Junior Firpo went forward, they put the balls in the box, but Joseph in the middle was huffing and puffing, but nothing really happened.”

Szmodics is likely to cost in the region of £10m, with Ipswich Town thought to be keen on agreeing a deal. Everton had also been linked with the striker but as yet no firm bid has emerged despite a summer of speculation.