David Prutton says he cannot understand why Leeds United did not rival Bristol City for Nahki Wells.
Both clubs were keen on a striker in January after both were handed blows by Arsenal over young striker Eddie Nketiah.
Nketiah was on loan at Leeds but was recalled due to a lack of first-team football, leaving the Whites short on firepower, whilst the Robins were keen to take the striker for the second half of the season.
Yet Arsenal instead kept Nketiah with them after the youngster impressed in training, leaving the Robins to look elsewhere for a front man.
City eventually signed Nahki Wells after Burnley recalled the striker from his impressive stint at QPR, whilst Leeds secured Jean-Kevin Augustin on loan from RB Leipzig.
Yet, writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Prutton questioned why Leeds could not afford the fee the Robins paid for Wells, especially with Augustin needing time to get match fit.
He said: "Marcelo again talked a lot about Eddie Nketiah in his press conference and his Arsenal recall but Nketiah hasn’t got months and years to wait around to get into Leeds’ team.
"With the greatest respect, it’s a team in the Championship and Eddie is at Arsenal so he might as well go and sit on Arsenal’s bench rather than Leeds’ bench.
"But with Augustin the proof will be in the pudding and once he gets anywhere near the pitch in any particular fit state we will see what player they have got.
"At this moment in time, whoever is saying he could be this and he could be that, nobody knows anything.
"He could be a great signing, he could be a poor signing and we won’t know until he gets out on the pitch.
"The jury is out and the jury is out with any player unless you bring a bona fide centre forward who has been playing in. Nahki Wells cost Bristol City around £5m.
"He knows his way around the Championship and couldn’t Leeds have scraped around to get that type of deal done? I know it’s not small change but it’s not extortionate.
"It’s a strange one that and now we will see what happens with Leeds."
