Now that Beckford is here to stay...remembering some strikers who got away!

1- DAVID HEALEY - 2007

No surprises really, the wee-man was a legend in "Norn Irn" but never seemed to find that golden touch at ER (perhaps due to successive managers wasting him on the wing). With Leeds in League One and administration, Healey slipped off for an unproductive spell with Fulham and has since joined Sunderland. Was rumoured to be coming back to Leeds this summer as a replacement for Beckford, but that seemed unlikely even if Becks had moved on!

2- ALAN SMITH - 2004

If Leeds crashing out of the Prem was bad enough in the midst of financial meltdown, the sale of a Yorkshire-born, Leeds supporting striker to Manchester United was nearly as hard to stomach as relegation itself!  His time at Old Trafford was blighted with injury and even the Manure manager himself Dame Alexis Fergyscum mused about grooming Smith as a midfield successor to retiring Roy Keane. A £6m move to Newcastle in August 2007 has yet to yield a league goal.

3- JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK - 1999

Having drifted through the lower/non-leagues of his native Holland "Fat Arse" found his form in Portugal with Boavista. He was discovered by George Graham in 1997 for a bargain £2m. He was a massive Premiership hit, top-scorer in his two seasons at ER. However with Leeds seemingly on the cusp of greatness under David O'Leary, the mood was soured when Hasselbaink rejected a new deal worth reportedly £40K a week. He was sold to Atletico Madrid for £12m but was soon back in England with Chelsea, before moves to Middlesbrough, Charlton and Cardiff where he was released in 2008. He reportedly is keen to break into management and was recently linked with the Southampton job.

4- ROD WALLACE - 1998

Signed for £1.6m in 1991, "Rodders" was a favourite with the fans, even though he seemed to stagnate a little post the title-triumph under Howard Wilkinson. Was often used out wide rather than a striker, he seemed to have a new lease of life injected into him by George Graham. However the ugly-spectre of the "Bosman ruling" was about to hit Leeds and having rediscovered his form Wallace made a shock switch to Rangers. He scored 27 goals in his first season at Ibrox. In 2001, he arrived at Bolton and wound-down his career at Gillingham FC.

5- ERIC CANTONA - 1992

Arrived in February 1992 on-loan as cover for the injured Lee Chapman having aborted a trial with Sheffield Wednesday. Massively influential in the 1991/92 season which saw Leeds win the title by a clear four points ahead of hated rivals Manchester United. Adored by the fans for his talents and great rapport with the supporters, signed permanently that summer however in November 1992 following a flurry of rumours, Wilkinson loses his nerve and cuts his losses, flogging Cantona for £1.2m to the Scum. Obviously (conveniently) we've forgotten what happened to the Frenchman after he left Leeds.

Photo: Action Images

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