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Gary McAllister completed his fifth inward transfer this afternoon when he got the signature of Argentinian, and former La Bombonera, striker Luciano Becchio on a three-year contract.

The signing wasn’t a surprise as McAllister had been saying how well he had done in the friendlies. After the 0-0 bore draw with Darlo on Tuesday, that Becchio was forced to sit out, Macca clearly felt the need for Becchio’s long-term presence.

The decision not to pursue Marcus Haber, a Canadian international striker who had scored in one of the Irish friendlies was also a strong hint that Macca had his mind made up. Also United were unimpressed with the dithering of Wolves striker Jay Bothroyd over joining Leeds when the clubs agreed a fee days ago. Bothroyd is clearly happier dwelling in a well-paid Championship reserve team rather than earning a living at the coal-face in League One.

Ken Bates will be pleased that the former Boca Juniors, Barcelona Athletic and Real Mallorca B striker arrives on a free transfer from his Spanish club, Merida Union Deportivo.

Just to clarify a common misconception, Becchio has been playing in the third tier of Spanish football not the second tier just below La Liga. Nonetheless, the reported tally of 28 goals in 50 games is good at any level in professional football.

Leeds’ other new striker Robert Snodgrass will be keen to have a word with Luciano to find out what it was like at Barcelona (even in the B or reserve team called “Athletic”). Barcelona once asked Snodgrass to come for a trial after he impressed them in a Scotland U-19 game. But the Livingston manager wouldn’t let him go on trial!