Leeds United need to be thinking about possible life in the Premier League when they do their transfer business in January, Noel Whelan believes.
Former Leeds hitman Whelan has issued strong calls for the Yorkshire giants to bring in another striker and he wants to see a more physical target man added to the ranks in the new year.
But Whelan has stopped short of asking Leeds to splash the cash on a striker, as they might have been expected to do to give fresh impetus to their promotion bid.
Instead, Whelan is arguing for a loan as he thinks if Leeds do go up then they will need a better calibre of player.
"I wouldn't want to be spending money for the sake of spending money", Whelan cautioned on BBC Radio Leeds.
"I think if we're going to get a striker it might have to be loaned.
"But a good loan, if you know what I mean, until the end of the season.
"If we are going into the Premier League then we need a different calibre of player up front, so we don't want to be wasting money on a Championship player, when if you're going to the Premier League he's not going to be any good."
Leeds did sign Patrick Bamford in the summer transfer window from Middlesbrough, but he has been laid low with injury.
And Whelan has long argued that Bamford represents more of the same for Leeds in attack, with a different dimension often needed in games.
