Leeds United might have Joel Piroe transfer decision to make amid ‘pecking order’ verdict
Leeds United might have a transfer decision to make over Joel Piroe if they are promoted to the Premier League, according to Paul Robinson.
The Dutch forward arrived from Swansea City in August 2023 in a deal that BBC Sport reported was worth in excess of £10million.
Piroe has 11 Championship goals from 32 league outings for the high-flying Whites but has netted just once in his past 10 outings across all competitions.
The 24-year-old has lost his regular starting spot in the team since Patrick Bamford found some form and fitness.
Former Leeds goalkeeper Robinson – speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News – likes Piroe as a player but acknowledged the club will have decisions to make on several players if they are promoted to the top flight.
“I think he started really well, I think him and (Georginio) Rutter carried the cannon earlier in the season when Bamford was injured,” he said.
“He got his goals earlier in the season and he’s had a little dip recently. But that’s what happens and I think in a team that’s playing well, Patrick was back in the side and scoring goals.
“I think with Piroe that, because of the lack of recent goals, he finds himself at the bottom of the three if you like, in the pecking order you would say Rutter and Bamford play ahead of him if both fully fit.
“That’s just team selection and form, whether they look to offload him long term or not remains to be seen, but I think he started the season well, he’s a good player.
“Whether he’s Premier League level or not he will be tested like a lot of other Leeds players in this side. It will remain to be seen whether he gets the opportunity.
“There’s a remainder of the season to go and it’s a big remainder of the season for a lot of players. the manager will purely be focused on getting out of this league automatically and his focus on next season and who fits where that will not be coming into his thinking as yet.
“At the moment he’s got a very strong squad looking to get out of this Championship, Piroe is part of that and he’ll play his part between now and the end of the season. We know we can’t rely on Patrick Bamford to be fit every week for every game.”
Will Joel Piroe still be at Leeds United next season?
They say form is temporary and class is permanent and Leeds fans will certainly be hoping that rings true for Piroe, who is struggling a little in front of goal.
Part of the problem, some have argued, is that earlier in the season he was playing behind Rutter and many thought he should have been leading the line.
But Bamford has been integral to Leeds’ success in battling it out for an automatic promotion berth in recent months, so Piroe is going to struggle to get the striker role.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t still a bit part of this squad, though, and he will have plenty of chances to show he can be of value in the top flight should Leeds make it.
In other Leeds United news, Sheffield Wednesday ace Marvin Johnson had a two-word message about the Whites prior to Friday’s encounter.
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