Should A Top Premier League Team Take a Chance on Jermaine Beckford?

The Bosman rule.

Three of the most detested words in the game of football, but only when the team is on the losing end of the rule.

The Bosman rule was brought into world football in 1995. It was named after Jean-Marc Bosman, a Belgian footballer who brought the Belgian FA, R.F.C de Liege and UEFA to court in regards to their transfer rules.

After his successful hearings, the Bosman rule was initiated into football, which gave players the right to leave a club once their contract was up.

Unfortunately for Leeds United, they are going to feel the blunt of the rule come this summer.

Their star striker and leading goalscorer for the past three years, Jermaine Beckford, is set to walk away from Elland Road in the summer free of charge.

Jermaine Beckford is still currently playing his football at Elland Road but he has confirmed adamantly that he will be leaving Leeds for pastures new come at the end of the season.

But where will the 26-year-old Englishman end up?

There is an array of Championship teams who would welcome Beckford with open arms, but due to his keen desire to join Newcastle during the January transfer window, it is safe to assume Beckford is eyeing a Premier League destination.

Beckford is rumoured to have signed a pre-contract with Everton earlier this year, but a pre-contract is not binding and both parties technically can pull out of the deal at anytime.

Due to the fact that Beckford could be lured away from Everton, should a top Premier League team take a chance on him?

In the last three years, Beckford has scored at least 20 league goals per season for Leeds. He has managed to net 68 times in 107 league appearances, which is an average of .63% or just under two goal every three games.

In all competitions Beckford has scored 81 goals in 131 games.

This year he managed to score five goals in six FA Cup ties. Three of the goals came against Premier League opposition, Manchester United and Tottenham (twice).

Beckford will be on the market free of charge and therefore can not cause any financial burden to a team if he fails to perform.

Due to the lack of financial risk, the question to take a risk on Beckford has to be asked to the seven teams who sit above Everton.

Aston Villa occupy the place above Everton. They have five natural forwards, three of which are in their 30's, Emile Heskey, John Carew and Marlon Harewood.

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Nathan Delfouneso make up the other two strikers.

Marlon Harewood has most likely spent his last season with Villa. Agbonlahor and Carew would be the two main strikers with Heskey pushing his way in their as well.

Heskey is 32 and may be on the way down. Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill rates his youngster Nathan Delfouneso quite highly and Beckford could find it hard to find a fit into the scheme at Aston Villa, who often play with one striker up top.

Everton's city rival Liverpool have Fernando Torres, along with Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog and young Daniel Pacheco.

Torres is one of the first names on the team sheet. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez tends to leave Kuyt for midfield duties. David Ngog seems to be next in line to fill in for Torres and Pacheco has yet to be giving a real test in the Premier League.

Beckford would give Liverpool added depth up front, which has been a major criticism of Liverpool this year. However, he could find himself spending the majority of his time on the bench if Torres remains fully fit.

Tottenham are loaded up front. Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko have all been playing outstanding for Spurs manager Harry Redknapp this season.

Also, Harry has spoken highly of Eider Gudjohnson, who is on loan from Monaco. He has hinted at the possibility of a permanent deal being struck to keep Gudjohnson at White Hart Lane.

Redknapp also has Irish striker Robbie Keane to come back into the fold come next season, after his loan spell at Celtic.

Beckford, who is originally from London, would find it extremely difficult to force his way into the Tottenham side who has more than enough forwards on their books as it is.

Manchester City are even more endowed at the forward position than Tottenham. Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy and Emmanuel Adebayor make up one half of the nine strikers that Manchester City have.

The other five are currently on loan spells, which is a what Beckford would see if he was crazy enough to sign with the Citizens.

Another London side, Arsenal have Robin Van Persie, Eduardo, Carlos Vela and Nicklas Bendtner all upfront.

Arsenal's front line has been hit with injury woes. Van Persie and Eduardo are the usual suspects and Beckford could add strength in depth. Again the question would be where would he stand if Arsenal were injury free.

Manchester United are a team with injury trouble up front as well. Both Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen have been on labeled out of action and United are left with just Dimitar Berbatov as their main striking option.

Mame Diouf and Federico Macheda are other options to put up front for United manager Alex Ferguson.

Beckford could be a usual assist to United's depth and could be signed in similar fashion to Michael Owen last summer.

Chelsea have Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Saloman Kalou and Daniel Sturridge as their attacking options along with other youth coming through such as Franco Di Santo.

Beckford would be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge even thought Chelsea's main two strikers are above 30.

Football these days has become a game based on squad depth and rotation, especially for teams who want to fight on many fronts in terms of silverware.

Jermaine Beckford seems set to play in the top flight of English Football next year and some of the top teams in the league could find it beneficial to them to take a gamble on him.