Leeds United are in the hunt for a new striker this window as they look at add goals to their side in the pursuit of promotion.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side are on the favourites to clinch automatic promotion back to the Premier League this season along with fellow top two side West Brom, following both demising into the play-offs last season.

Up until recent weeks, it looked almost a certainty that Leeds would be remaining in the top two for the duration of the season, before results took a huge dip around the Christmas period and have closed the gap to third down to just three points.

The January transfer window regularly throws up names of players that the Whites are reportedly interested in and this window is the turn of strikers to be targeted by the club, as they look to add more firepower in search of a long-awaited promotion back to the top flight.

With just over a week to go in the transfer window for Leeds to secure a deal, we take a look at their current search in this six point opinion…

Firstly, why do Leeds need a striker?

“Before the New Year, Bielsa had two strikers to choose from in Patrick Bamford and Eddie Nketiah, and most were content with these two as the main men going forward.

“However, a lack of playing time for the latter meant that Arsenal - his parent club - opted to recall him and keep him with their squad for the remainder of the season.

“This leaves Leeds with just Patrick Bamford as a senior striker and, given his injury concerns and questions over his form, there is a significant clamour for a fresh face at Elland Road."

Is Bamford not the main man?

“Bielsa clearly favours Bamford as his main striker this season after letting Kemar Roofe leave and benching Nketiah most weeks, but this stern faith in the former Middlesbrough man isn’t proving to be the best placed at the moment.

“While the 26-year-old clearly fits the mould of what Bielsa wants from a striker in terms of all-round ability, his finishing has been poor this season.

“Bamford has hit double figures for goals this season, but there is no disputing that he has had the opportunities to at least double that tally, with how well the Whites attack each week and create chances.”

Who are they looking at currently?

“There have been strong links to a number of players and there are some top drawer strikers in there that would certainly enhance their attack, heading into the business end of the season.

“The prime target from the start of the window has been Southampton’s Che Adams, along with Watford’s Andre Gray, Hull City’s Jarrod Bowen, plus other names that have been linked such as Sheffield United journeyman Billy Sharp and Middlesbrough’s currently injured Britt Assombalonga.

“Each of these players presents Leeds with a similar style of attacking play that would very much suit the mould of Bielsa’s high-intensity attack with pressing from the front.”

Why haven’t they got a target over the line yet?

“Despite the mass anxiety amongst Leeds fans to get a deal done, it hasn’t been for the want of trying, as it was revealed yesterday that Leeds had a third bid rejected by the Saints for Adams’ services, an initial loan with a £20million option to buy upon promotion.

“January is a very difficult window to secure top players, as Leeds will know better than anyone from last season’s infamous Daniel James saga.

“With Leeds needing someone with guaranteed goalscoring pedigree, there aren’t many teams that will be willing to part ways with a player that possess that, especially with league positions so precarious at this stage of the season.”

Do you know what these former Leeds players are up to now?

What is next with Adams?

“Well, with that whopping third bid rejected, it does appear less and less likely that Southampton will budge in their stance of Adams not leaving the club.

“It comes as a surprise to see the Saints reject such a lucrative offer, considering it would give them a cool £5million profit on a player who has failed to score in the Premier League this season.

“It would be in Leeds’ best interests now to move on a pursue other targets before it becomes too late in the window to get anyone good enough in the door at Elland Road because another bid wastes more time that they simply don’t have.”

Finally, where do you see Leeds going with this pursuit?

“It seems as though Adams is well and truly off the table, which is a shame because he would be the perfect fit for how Leeds currently play and would bang goals in for fun at Elland Road.

“The next best option would appear to be Andre Gray at Watford who has proven at both Brentford and Burnley that he can be one of the most lethal strikers in the Championship, earning him a spot in the Premier League with the Hornets.

“The main stumbling block with many players (Gray mainly) is the finances of a loan deal and the wages that these players are on, which a Championship club will struggle to justify for even half a season.

There are murmurs that sporting director Victor Orta could be taking his search abroad over the next week to find the best option, which presents an unknown quantity when brought into this league.

“I believe that if Andre Gray is ready and available on the right finances, that should be the deal Leeds pursue, but there could be a hidden gem we are not yet aware of that the club could be after.”