Joel Piroe D-Day comes clear as Leeds United future hangs by a thread
Joel Piroe’s future at Leeds United is looking increasingly bleak as the season goes on.
When someone who won the Championship Golden Boot is dropped the following season, it’s usually because his side have started firing in goals for the fun of it.
But that is not the case for Leeds, who have heavily relied on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to stick the ball in the back of the net and keep their survival hopes alive.
That has made the Dutchman’s omission from encounters even more bizarre, with Lukas Nmecha, who only arrived in the summer, also ahead of him in the pecking order.
And after Leeds’ FA Cup victory over Birmingham, Piroe may have one final chance to stake a claim for his future at Elland Road.
Joel Piroe has one game to save his Leeds’ career
Given just how important it is for Leeds to stay in the Premier League, many thought it was almost a foregone conclusion that Piroe would be handed a start against Birmingham.
He wasn’t, and Nmecha was handed another chance to lead the line, despite having done so in the previous Premier League encounters.
The Dutchman did come on as a late sub in the second half, and after Patrick Roberts equalised in the final minute of regular time, he was handed many more minutes than Daniel Farke probably anticipated.
However, with Leeds now having drawn Norwich in the next round of the cup, that is almost certainly going to be his last chance to showcase why he can still have a future at Elland Road.
The Whites welcome the Canaries to Elland Road on 7 March as things stand, and given the fact that it will likely be their last encounter against a lower-league opposition, Piroe will be hoping for his chance.
Where is Piroe likely to go after Leeds?
Given the form he has showcased in the Championship throughout his career, a move back there could easily be on the cards.
However, given the 49ers‘ involvement in Glasgow, a move to Rangers would also make plenty of sense for all parties.
Piroe would be almost guaranteed a starting role at Ibrox, and the incentive of European football will be hard to turn down for him.
The 49ers have experienced his goal-scoring abilities firsthand, and if the chance emerges to take him to Rangers, they would be silly to turn it down.
For even more Leeds United transfer news and opinions, head over to Football Inside