Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Tue 7 April 2026 9:10, UK

Leeds United striker Joel Piroe certainly didn’t cover himself in glory against West Ham.

Piroe has made just 18 appearances in all competitions this season, including 13 in the Premier League, but just two of his top-flight outings have been in the starting XI.

Judging from his display in the Whites’ FA Cup victory at the London Stadium, there is a clear reason why Daniel Farke has been reluctant to rely on him on the biggest occasions.

Despite being a crucial player under Farke last campaign, the ace has now tumbled down the fringes of the squad, as proven by his meagre five starts in total since August.

Piroe faces an increasingly uncertain future at Leeds, raising awkward questions over why the club opted for him over Largie Ramazani, who is continuing to impress out on loan.

Largie Ramazani putting Joel Piroe to shame

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Noah Okafor and Lukas Nmecha were all recruited by the Yorkshire outfit at great expense during the summer, as Farke overhauled his frontline.

Piroe was given the nod in the quarter-final showdown against West Ham but delivered a poor performance and went on to miss his spot-kick during the shootout.

His slump represents a staggering reversal of fortunes after he finished last season as Leeds’ and the Championship’s top scorer, having bagged 19 goals in 46 league outings.

In hindsight, the decision to prioritise him over Ramazani has backfired horribly.

Ramazani arrived from Almeria in August 2024 in a deal worth around £10million, but he was shipped out to Valencia until the end of the season after a frustrating 2024-25.

In the first half of this campaign, minutes were hard to come by in Spain. However, he is now thriving, having scored five goals in his last eight LaLiga matches to catch the eye.

Reports have suggested Leeds may want Ramazani back at Elland Road if they successfully avoid Premier League relegation, meaning he may have more of a role to play than Piroe.

Piroe between a rock and a hard place

Piroe is too good for the Championship but not quite equipped to make the step up to the Premier League. His future, therefore, will depend on what league Leeds are in next season.

Against clubs lower down the pyramid, the 26-year-old has enjoyed success when afforded time and space in and around the penalty area.

But in the top-flight, he has no room to breathe.

That much has been proven by his reasonable cup performances against the likes of Derby County and Norwich City, which could act as a sales pitch for a move away in the summer.

Clubs in the Netherlands have been tipped to swoop at the end of the season, while he has also been linked with a host of Championship outfits and Scottish giants Rangers.

Frustratingly for him, he is unlikely to be given clarity over his future until Leeds’ survival fate has been decided, so he must therefore brace for several more months of disappointment.

Ramazani, on the other hand, will be licking his lips at the prospect of finally making an impression for his parent club, likely at the expense of Piroe.