EFL expert Don Goodman believes Leeds United's need to sign a new striker could be bad news for Joe Gelhardt following their promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds were crowned Championship champions on the final day of the season a month ago, and immediately attention turned towards giving Daniel Farke a squad capable of competing in the top flight. And Goodman believes signing a new striker will be central to those hopes.
Gelhardt played just nine minutes of football off the bench for Leeds in the early weeks of the season before joining Hull City on loan in January, and has admitted he has a decision to make over his future this summer.
The 23-year-old went on to play 22 times and scored five crucial goals for the Tigers to help the Yorkshire side stay in the division on the final day of the campaign.
Ruben Selles was desperate to bring the Liverpool-born forward back this summer, but his sacking has thrown those chances into doubt.
"Leeds are probably going to need a new number nine at the top of their list, along with a new goalkeeper, in all likelihood and with all due respect to the players at the club in those positions," Goodman told FLW.
"It's imperative that they get their transfer policy right. We've seen how the last six promoted teams have struggled to compete in the Premier League; there is that gulf. But then you look at the three that went up before them - Bournemouth, Fulham and Nottingham Forest - and they're all challenging for Europe this season, so there is some hope.
"The common denominator with them three teams is that they got their recruitment absolutely spot on and, as I said, Leeds are going to have to do the same thing, and that will probably include a number nine to go straight into the team."