Leeds United face Southampton transfer threat for Cameron Archer from Aston Villa as well as Joel Piroe from Swansea
Leeds United and Southampton face “competition” from each other for Cameron Archer as well as Joel Piroe this summer, according to Simon Jones.
The Mail journalist reported for the newspaper’s website on Monday (21 August) that the Saints now have an interest in the Aston Villa striker who the Whites like, having previously emerged as a rival for the Swansea goalscorer.
Archer, 21, is thought to be available with Villa ready to let him go, and Middlesbrough, where he spent half of last season on loan, are also expected to be in the running to bring him back.
Piroe, 24, has been widely linked to a host of big Championship clubs, and even Premier League Everton, as he enters the final year of his contract in South Wales, but is expected to cost at least £15million.
Thanks to each club’s exits during the transfer window Southampton are cash-rich compared to Leeds United currently.
Head to head
As sizeable clubs who have both been hit by relegation from the Premier League it is perhaps no surprise that the Whites and the Saints are going after the same men.
But with Southampton having made huge money already this summer by selling the likes of Romeo Lavia to Chelsea and James Ward-Prowse to West Ham they represent a major threat if Daniel Farke has genuine hopes of landing either forward.
The German on the other hand has seen Tyler Adams leave for over £20m to Bournemouth over the weekend, but otherwise his squad has been gutted by loan departures that have brought in next to nothing in spending money.
Patrick Bamford’s latest fitness issues, coupled with injury to Mateo Joseph, have left Leeds United once again looking short up front.
All of Willy Gnonto, Joe Gelhardt and Georginio Rutter have started at striker so far this season but none are bonafide number nines and the Italian international isn’t playing anywhere right now as he looks to force a move away.
Piroe, off the back of 46 Swansea goals since arriving from PSV in 2021 would be a hugely attractive option, and perhaps the Whites could now afford him thanks to the Adams sale, but with plenty of other moves to do that money won’t stretch far, so the best part of £100m brought in by Southampton is obviously a concern.
Archer, with 11 strikes for Boro last season, and seven for Preston North End in another half-season loan the campaign before, has also shown he can find the net in the Championship.
He looks like exactly the sort of option Farke could do with right now, so the news that Southampton are again lurking is not what the manager will want to hear.
In other Leeds United news, the club have received “encouraging news” in their transfer stand-off with a wantaway star.