Jermaine Beckford surprised Leeds United didn’t sign Nahki Wells in January

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Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford has told Talk Sport (15/02; 08:30) that he’s baffled the club didn’t try and sign Nahki Wells during the January transfer window.

The 29-year-old cost the Robins £5 million from Burnley (BBC), although he had spent the first half of the current campaign on loan at QPR.

During his time at the Kiyen Prince Foundation Stadium, he had netted 15 goals in 29 games, with Mark Warburton’s men flirting with a promotion push earlier in the season.

Leeds did land Jean-Kevin Augustin during January but ex-striker Beckford believes more should have been done to take Wells to West Yorkshire.

He told Talk Sport (15/02; 08:30): “If you are a Leeds United number nine, that’s massive pressure in itself.

“You know every game you are going to be judged whether you score one, two or three goals, not how many assists you get. That’s been one of the biggest issues this season.

“Talking about forwards. Nahki Wells was available for £5 million. For me, when he was at QPR for the first half of the season, he scored a lot of goals.

“To know someone was available, with Championship experience on the back of scoring however many goals, was a little bit baffling to me. I don’t know why they didn’t reach out and try and get him on board.”

Beckford is a hero at Elland Road and was a vital part of restoring the club back into the Championship after some years in League One.

In 147 games he scored 84 goals with his most famous strike coming at Old Trafford when Leeds dumped Manchester United out of the FA Cup in 2010.

Proven

Beckford is perhaps right to suggest that Leeds should have gone for Wells. One beauty of his signing would be that he has been playing all season so wouldn’t need a settling in period.

Augustin might be a useful addition to Leeds but there is a reason that Red Bull Leipzig have allowed a player with such potential out on loan.

He flattered to deceive at Monaco and now faces a fight to get up the level of fitness required to become a hit in the Championship.

One unattractive aspect of Wells going to Leeds would be the fact that Marcelo Bielsa clearly rates Patrick Bamford.

At 29, the Bristol City striker isn’t going to have wanted to sign for a club where the vast majority of his appearances would come from the bench.

If Lee Johnson’s team were to go up at the expense of Leeds then the decision might look foolish. The Whites should have enough in the tank, however, to make a real go at finishing in the top two this season.