By Frank McAvennie

7th Oct, 2023 | 9:00pm

Leeds United backed to 'spend big in January' after Bamford latest - pundit

Leeds United need to spend big if they have any chance of getting back to the Premier League.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie said Leeds will not get themselves promoted “on a budget”.

The Whites have endured a rocky start on their return to the English second division with four wins and four draws from their first ten matches.

Daniel Farke’s side have found the back of the net 15 times so far this season and have conceded ten.

Farke’s current options up front include Georginio Rutter, Joel Piroe, Joe Gelhardt, Mateo Joseph and the injured Patrick Bamford.

Joseph and Bamford are yet to make an appearance this term, the latter being sidelined through an injury picked up in pre-season.

Gelhardt has scored just once so far this season whilst Piroe has found the back of the net six times in 11 appearances and Rutter has notched just two goals.

McAvennie has claimed the Whites need to bring in a big money signing in January if they have any hopes of getting back to the top flight.

“I think Leeds are a massive club and they should be in the Premier League,” he told Football Insider.

“They will not get back there on a budget. If Bamford keeps getting injured, buy a striker that is going to score you 20-plus goals to get you back up.

“It is silly, spend the money. Leeds are a great club and I really admire them, I would never want to disrespect them but at the moment they are just not good. I hope they can come up because they deserve to be in the Premier League.“

In other news, according to Kieran Maguire, Leeds United could now reap dividends from ‘gamble’.