George Overhill

Wed 23 August 2023 17:10, UK

Leeds United are under extra pressure to land a deal for Joel Piroe from Swansea City as they have missed out on another striker target in Cameron Archer.

The Whites were reported to be ahead of Sheffield United in the race to sign Archer as recently as Tuesday (22 August) as Football League World named the club as favourites, but that has quickly reversed just as Leeds stepped up their pursuit of Piroe.

The two developments are surely connected, as Sun journalist Alan Nixon reported in successive Patreon posts on Wednesday morning (23 August) that the Blades were set for a “stunning” deal to sign the Villa forward, and that Leeds were now ready to pay as much as £15million for his Swans counterpart, with a “massive” contract mooted.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay followed up to report that the Dutchman was “increasingly likely” to leave South Wales as Leeds United work on a move for him, with Daniel Farke in “major” need of a new striker, before Sky Sports reported that talks had been opened between the two clubs.

However, both reports pointed out widespread rival interest, in particular from fellow relegated sides Leicester City and Southampton, each of whom have made big money this summer selling their star players back to the Premier League.

So with the news from Fabrizio Romano, again on 23 August, that a medical has been booked for Archer, 21, at Sheffield United ahead of a deal worth up to £19m, the pressure is very much on at Elland Road to see their alternative move through.

Archer has scored 18 Championship goals in two half-season loans over the previous two campaigns, first with Preston North-End, and then with Middlesbrough last term, while assisting seven more.

Piroe has netted 41 league strikes in the second tier in his two full seasons with Swansea, assisting eight more, making both highly desirable options at this level.

But since Leeds are clearly on the brink of having missed out on the former the necessity to ensure they are successful on the latter has been cranked up significantly.

Farke needs a striker badly, with Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph injured, forcing him to start a succession of supporting attackers as a number nine instead so far this season.

None of Willy Gnonto, Joe Gelhardt or Georginio Rutter are solo front men, and the two who are are either injury-prone or inexperienced, so landing a proven Championship goal getter is of the utmost importance and options are running out.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are pushing to land another key deal ahead of two more league rivals this week.