Leeds United could make Championship statement with move for Joel Piroe as transfer news emerges
Joel Piroe reportedly does not want to extend his Swansea City stay with Leeds United looking at the possibility of signing him, representing a potential statement acquisition.
According to Wales Online (20 July), the Dutchman does not want to sign a new deal at the Swansea.com stadium, with talks now scheduled between the club and the player regarding his immediate future.
The conversations between the two parties will take place in the next 24 hours and a decision needs to be made given he’s got only a year left on his current deal in Wales.
The Whites have already been busy in the summer transfer window completing the signing of Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea in a £7m deal, and a potential striker signing will also be high on Daniel Farke’s recruitment agenda, with Rodrigo departing Elland Road this month and Elland Road icon Patrick Bamford facing an uncertain future.
And according to several reports, Piroe has emerged as one Leeds United’s forward targets this summer with Phil Hay naming the Dutchman as a Whites transfer target in The Athletic on 6 July, before describing him as a “shoe-in for any Championship club” to score goals on The Square Ball (33m 30s).
The 23-year-old swiftly became one of the Championship’s most ruthless finishers over the past two campaigns, notching 20 goals from 45 appearances last season after hitting 24 goals the previous term marking him out as the ideal candidate to lead Leeds United forward next season.
However, should Leeds United firm up their interest in signing the Dutchman, the Whites certainly face a tough fight on their hands with Piroe seemingly ready to move up a level to the Premier League, with the likes of Everton and Nottingham Forest also on his tails [Wales Online, 29 June].
It remains to be seen whether Piroe would want to endure another 46-game Championship season for the forthcoming campaign as he is certainly ready to move to another level after proving himself for two full and sensational seasons.
Should the Whites secure his signature amidst the uncertainty regarding his decision, it would indeed be a statement signing to their Championship rivals. Piroe not only holds the qualities to become one but also possesses the confidence and character to become a serious success story at Elland Road.
The forward, dubbed “outstanding” by his former manager Russell Martin has enjoyed life at the Welsh club over the previous few seasons as stated previously, scoring 24 goals in 2021/22 and finding the net on 20 occasions this season, suggesting he is a prolific frontman that can score on a regular basis and would certainly be the envy of plenty of top English Football League clubs should he join the Farke revolution.
Piroe will solve plenty of the burning attacking issues in the Leeds United squad but is also blessed with the size, bullish characteristics and clinical goalscoring attributes to become a serious weapon for Farke next season.
He demonstrated his importance this season for Swansea by ranking third for big chances created (five), first for goals (19) and first for shots on target per game, displaying his all-round attacking abilities.
Signing Piroe would represent a strong marker of Farke and the 49ers Enterprises’ lofty ambitions at Elland Road.
In other Leeds news, the Whites have tabled a £4m+ bid to sign a new goalkeeper this summer with a Euro club providing a swift response.