David_BentleyLeeds United have again been linked with loan moves for numerous top-flight forwards, after Saturday’s 1-2 defeat to Burnley at Elland Road.

The Yorkshire Evening Press suspects that former fan favourite Luciano Becchio is interested in a move back to Yorkshire, after a swap-deal with Norwich City last January saw Steve Morison and an undisclosed sum paid to the Whites for Becchio’s services. Aside from appearing in eight games at the end of last season, Becchio has failed to make his mark at Carrow Road.

Despite his previous success at Leeds, fans have been quick to dismiss talk of the Argentine’s return to Elland Road as positive, often stating that the club “must move forward” in order to achieve the lucrative return that the Premier League promises. In addition to this, many fans believe Becchio’s style of football isn’t well accustomed to the brand employed under the management of Brian McDermott.

There has been further speculation that Brian McDermott fancies a move for former Reading spearhead Shane Long, who has been pushed to the fringes of the West Bromich Albion side- after a proposed £5 million transfer to Hull City collapsed in the summer. Long was heavily relied upon by McDermott during his time at the Madejski, with the forward netting 44 times in 174 appearances for the Royals between 2005-2011. Fans appear more content at the idea of Shane Long in white, as his pace and creativity in the attacking third are what many consider the side to be lacking.

Furthermore, the Yorkshire Evening Press was last week linking United with a swoop for former England winger David Bentley- despite Brian McDermott moving quickly to deny any link. Bentley, who most recently spent an unsuccessful term on loan with Russian side FC Rostov, was labelled “too similar a player” to current forwards Ross McCormack and El-Hadji Diouf- regardless of the fact that Bentley is commonly known as a right winger, and McCormack and Diouf to be centre forwards.

The club’s owners are understood to have promised McDermott funds to complete a transfer on the back of poor league and cup form, and any move enticing creativity and attacking prowess would be welcome among the United faithful.

by Nick Ansell (@NickAnsell)