Leeds United transfer news: BBC pundit reacts to ‘massive’ Joel Piroe rumours at Swansea City with Whites bid mooted
Leeds United are “going to put a bid in” for Joel Piroe but Swansea look set for a “massive boost” if he now signs a new contract before they can, according to Carlton Palmer.
The BBC pundit reacted to suggestions that the Welsh club might be set for a breakthrough in ongoing contract talks, telling Football League World (22 August) that it would be “magnificent news” for them to extend the 24-year-old who has been attracting a lot of interest from Elland Road.
Swansea signing Jerry Yates this summer looked to have pushed Piroe towards the exit as his deal ticked under 12-months left, despite a £15million price-tag, but while the Whites and Southampton are still after him until anything is made official Palmer feels like it might be too late.
Palmer: “It’s reported that Joel Piroe is set to sign a new long-term contract at Swansea City. This is a massive boost for Swansea and Michael Duff in their chances to get promotion.
“[He’s a] proven 20-goal man a season. It would’ve been a big loss for them to lose Joel. There’s been a lot of interest from top clubs.
“Leeds United were interested in him, were going to put a bid in, but that’s magnificent news for Michael Duff and Swansea.
“Goal getters are hard to come by. So this is fantastic news once he puts pen to paper.”
Premature?
If Piroe is indeed extending in south Wales that is clearly a major boon for the Swans given his excellent goalscoring record for them.
With Daniel Farke clearly in need of a striker before the deadline the former PSV Eindhoven man would be an ideal target, although even without a new contract at Swansea a move is easier said than done.
He is, perhaps understandably after 46 goals for the club in two seasons and a bit, a pricey option for a Whites side that has only just got some decent money in from selling Tyler Adams.
And he is widely wanted, with Premier League strugglers Everton linked this summer as well as most of the big clubs in the second tier.
Concrete evidence that the Swansea extension is imminent is hard to come by so it may be wishful thinking unless there is a development in the coming days, but either way the deadline isn’t far off so Farke is going to need to move fast even if he is still available.
Until a contract extension is announced or the transfer window shuts there will remain hope that the Whites can somehow get a deal done, because the club needs help up front after starting every game this season without a recognised number nine.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are closing in on their fifth signing of the summer after a push over night for a target Farke is “desperate” to bring in.